Oct 17, 2024 – Tensions ran high in Albania’s capital today as opposition parties and civil society groups gathered to demand the resignation of Tirana’s mayor, Erion Veliaj. The protest, aimed at calling out alleged corruption in the city’s administration, quickly descended into clashes with police, with protesters burning tires and scuffling with officers.
The day’s unrest started earlier in the morning in front of the Assembly’s plenary hall, where opposition MPs were barred from entering. Riot police were deployed, and clashes ensued between opposition members and the police. Several MPs were physically blocked from accessing the parliament building, adding to the already charged atmosphere in the city.
The protest then moved to the Municipality of Tirana, where opposition parties, led by the Democratic Party of Albania (PD) and the Freedom Party (PL), rallied with civil society activists and citizens. This second gathering, while less intense than the morning’s altercation, saw more confrontations between protesters and police, with tires being set ablaze in protest.
In his speech at the city hall, PD MP Tomor Alizoti urged Albanians to unite in opposition. “Opposition isn’t just for the Democratic Party,” Alizoti said. “It’s for all of us. It’s a movement for every Albanian who wants change.”
Dorjan Teliti, Vice Chairman of the Tirana Municipal Council, also took to the stage, calling for civil disobedience. “We must keep the fire of protest burning,” he told the crowd. “Only through resistance can we restore Albania to normality.”
