 "Violence breaks out in Albania as thousands rally against government")
Albania’s capital city of Tirana is rocked by anti-government protests, with police trying to quell the demonstrations by firing tear gas and water cannon at the protestors. Thousands of people supporting the Opposition are demanding the resignation of the current government in the Balkan country.
Sixteen protesters were treated in a hospital for burns and other injuries, police said, adding that 13 protesters were arrested. Many of the rally members were seen throwing Molotov cocktails and rocks at the police.
Why are people protesting?
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama’s government has been accused of corruption involving Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku. Although not the first time that his government has come under fire, Rama has resisted calls for Balluku’s dismissal. There have been growing demands that lawmakers lift Balluku’s immunity from prosecution, which can only be done in a parliamentary vote.
Anti-corruption prosecutors have accused Balluku, who is also minister for energy and infrastructure, of interfering in public procurement for construction projects to favour certain companies, and have called for her immunity to be lifted.
Albania has witnessed anti-government protests turning violent in the past, but no real change has ever resulted from these demonstrations.
‘Peaceful protests’
Political analyst Mentor Kikia said it was unlikely that any major change would result from the protests. “Citizens are distrustful, having consistently voted for the lesser evil to remove the greater evil from power,” he said.
“The current perception is that if Rama leaves, Berisha will return. One left power because of corruption, the other must also leave power because of corruption,” Kikia said.
Albania hopes to join the European Union, and is under close monitoring by the bloc as part of its accession process, which it hopes to complete by 2027.
However, international watchdogs say the country continues to suffer from widespread corruption.
With inputs from agencies
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