A protest held this Saturday in Tirana, where citizens and students took to the streets demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama, has drawn the attention of foreign media. This time, the French outlet France 24 has devoted an article to the situation in Albania, reporting on the developments of the opposition rally and the clashes between protesters and police forces.
In its coverage, the French media writes that new protests against the government have broken out in the Albanian capital, with the main demand being Edi Rama’s removal from leadership of the country.
According to France 24, the protest movement has no single organization or leader. The gatherings began in May, initially in a peaceful manner, fueled by corruption allegations and opposition to the construction of a luxury hotel in a protected natural area.
The outlet notes that since mid-October the protests have intensified, turning into a series of rallies, some of which were accompanied by clashes. Citizens’ dissatisfaction relates not only to governance, but also to the state of the healthcare system and the lack of opportunities for young people.
Describing this Saturday’s protest, France 24 reports that the gathering began peacefully in front of the Ministry of Education, despite the rain. The situation later became tense, as dozens of young people threw stones and Molotov cocktails at the police, while burning of waste containers was also reported. To disperse the crowd, police used a water cannon.
The article also focuses on the measures announced by Albanian authorities. France 24 writes that on Wednesday the government announced tougher sanctions against persons involved in acts of violence during protests, with fines that can reach 5,500 euros.