Police use power towards protesters in Albania’s capital, Tirana, amid requires Prime Minister Edi Rama to step down.
Printed On 11 Feb 2026
Police in Albania have fired water cannon and tear fuel towards protesters outdoors Prime Minister Edi Rama’s workplace within the capital, Tirana, because the demonstrators referred to as for his resignation following a serious corruption scandal.
Protesters threw Molotov cocktails and flares at police on Tuesday night time, who sprayed water cannon and tear fuel on the crowds. Clashes additionally occurred close to Albania’s parliament constructing, in response to media experiences.
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Not less than 16 folks have been injured and despatched to hospital, and one other 13 folks have been arrested on the scene. Media experiences battle over whether or not the variety of injured represents simply law enforcement officials, protesters, or each.
The protest is the most recent in a collection of antigovernment demonstrations in Albania in latest months.
Political discontent has been brewing since November, when prosecutors alleged that Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, who can be Albania’s minister for power and infrastructure, had interfered within the procurement of presidency building contracts.
She was briefly suspended from workplace earlier than she was reinstated the next month at Prime Minister Rama’s request.
Protesters say they need each Rama and Balluku out. They’ve additionally referred to as for parliament to droop Balluku’s immunity so she will be able to face prosecution.
Greater than 1,300 police have been deployed at Tuesday’s demonstration, simply two weeks after one other violent rally in Tirana.
Each protests have been referred to as by Sali Berisha, chief of the opposition Democratic Occasion and a former prime minister.
He stated on Tuesday that the protests have been an indication {that a} “peaceable rebellion” is underneath manner in Albania, in response to the Related Press (AP) information company.
Berisha has additionally confronted corruption prices prior to now.
Political analyst Mentor Kikia informed AP that Albania’s management and opposition provided comparable disadvantages.
“Residents are distrustful, having constantly voted for the lesser evil to take away the larger evil from energy,” he stated.
“The present notion is that if Rama leaves, Berisha will return. One left energy due to corruption, the opposite should additionally go away energy due to corruption,” Kikia stated.
