Thousands of people have taken to the streets of Albania’s capital Tirana to demonstrate against the Socialist Party of Albania (SP) led by Prime Minister Edi Rama, the latest in a series of protests led by the opposition. The demonstration, which took place in front of the Parliament building last night, did not register any violent incidents. Previous protests were directed against sharp price increases, including fuel prices, as well as the lack of jobs and opportunities for Albanian citizens.
As in recent months, these rallies have been led by opposition leader Sali Berisha, leader of the nationalist Democratic Party (PD), who described Rama, in office since 2013, as «an enemy of freedom and the right to vote» after accusing him of repression, electoral fraud and corruption.
«Edi Rama, don’t forget the tradition of Albanians for freedom – woe to whoever touches their freedom, woe to whoever touches their vote! We will never forgive him,» Berisha shouted during the protest, picked up by the Klan channel.
The protest was the latest in a series that began in July with the aim of toppling Rama’s government. Berisha, 78, was the first president elected in free elections in 1992 after the fall of the communist regime.
He then served as prime minister between 2005 and 2013 and led PD until 2013 before being ousted by Lulzim Basha. In May this year, he returned to the party leadership after a power struggle with Basha.
