Albania’s opposition supporters rally to demand gov’t step down
Al Jazeera
Opposition supporters in Albania have taken to the streets to demand the government be replaced by a technocratic caretaker cabinet before next year’s parliamentary elections.
The conservative opposition has long accused Prime Minister Edi Rama’s Socialists of corruption, manipulating earlier voting and usurping powers of the judiciary.
The Democratic Party of former Prime Minister Sali Berisha has been holding protests at parliament over the past week after one of its members was convicted of slander and imprisoned in a case it considers politically motivated. Ervin Salianji has appealed his conviction to the Supreme Court.
The Democrats, who have staged sometimes violent protests against the government since 2013, also seek Berisha’s release from house arrest, which was ordered during an investigation into alleged corruption.
A few thousand protesters gathered in front of the main government building in Tirana on Monday, shouting, “Down with the dictatorship” and “Berisha, Berisha”. After briefly clashing with police, they hurled Molotov cocktails.
