Protesters reportedly attacked a government building with petrol bombs, causing injuries to multiple police officers.
In the Albanian capital of Tirana, a group of demonstrators associated with the opposition Democratic Party engaged in violent activities by throwing Molotov cocktails and fireworks at the office of Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama. The protest, triggered by corruption allegations against the deputy prime minister, attracted a large crowd estimated in the thousands, as detailed by Albanian Daily News.
Several police officers sustained injuries during the clashes, and three protesters were taken into custody, according to reports from Ora News. Law enforcement responded to the situation by deploying tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protesters before they proceeded towards the Parliament building in Tirana.
Albania has been grappling with a deepening political crisis following accusations from anti-corruption prosecutors against Deputy PM Belinda Balluku for alleged interference in major state contracts. Balluku is accused of manipulating public tenders to benefit specific companies involved in infrastructure projects like Tirana’s Greater Ring Road and the Llogara Tunnel. Despite denying the allegations as “insinuations,” “half-truths,” and “lies,” Balluku was temporarily removed from office in November by Albania’s Special Court Against Corruption and Organised Crime, only to be reinstated by the constitutional court, sparking widespread protests.
Prime Minister Rama has stood by Balluku, criticizing her removal as setting a concerning precedent. He expressed his belief that errors are inevitable for the newly established anti-corruption agency, SPAK, labeling it as a “newborn institution with a newborn independent power” that has made “plenty of mistakes.” Meanwhile, opposition leaders have vowed to continue anti-government demonstrations in response to the ongoing political turmoil.