TIRANA, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Police in Tirana fired tear gas and used water cannon in clashes on Friday with opposition protesters demanding the resignation of the Albanian government following
Corruption Claims Ignite Tirana Unrest as Police Clash with Protesters
Protests Over Corruption Allegations in Tirana
TIRANA, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Police in Tirana fired tear gas and used water cannon in clashes on Friday with opposition protesters demanding the resignation of the Albanian government following corruption allegations against the deputy prime minister.
Police Response and Protest Tactics
Demonstrators hurled petrol bombs and fireworks at the Prime Minister Edi Rama's office and police responded with tear gas and water cannon.
Allegations Against Deputy PM Belinda Balluku
Political tensions have escalated since December after a special prosecution unit indicted Rama's deputy, Belinda Balluku, for allegedly interfering in public tenders for major infrastructure projects and favouring certain companies, charges Balluku denies.
Crowd Size and Chants
Thousands of opposition Democratic Party supporters chanted "Rama, go away" and "Rama in jail" carrying Albanian and party flags.
Opposition Leaders’ Calls for Resignation
"Edi Rama's days are numbered," said Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha. "Let them know that even if they go behind the sun, we will find them and punish them with the full force of the law.”
Balluku Suspended from Duty
Legal Actions and Immunity Debate
An anti-corruption court has suspended Balluku from office but the Special Prosecution Office, tasked with fighting corruption, has demanded parliament lift her immunity to enable her arrest.
Parliament’s Role in Lifting Immunity
Rama's Socialist Party, which last year secured a fourth consecutive term, has a comfortable parliamentary majority and it is unclear if and when the assembly will lift the immunity of Balluku, who also served as an infrastructure minister and is a close ally of the prime minister.
Government Response to Judiciary
Rama has complained about judicial overreach, especially with pre-trial detentions.
EU Membership Context and Reform Pressures
Albania aims to join the European Union by 2030 but the bloc says the country must do more to fight crime and corruption.
(Reporting by Florion Goga, writing by Fatos Bytyci; editing by Alex Richardson)
