Tensions flared in Tirana on Tuesday as Albania’s opposition took to the streets, demanding a caretaker government to steer the country toward fresh parliamentary elections. Protesters also called for the release of their leader, Sali Berisha, who has been under house arrest since last December.
Led by the Democratic Party, demonstrators blocked five major roads in the capital from 5 p.m., causing significant disruption during rush hour. What began as a peaceful rally quickly escalated into clashes with police, who tried to clear the streets to restore traffic flow.
At several intersections, scuffles broke out as police, equipped with shields and helmets, pushed back crowds. Protesters resisted, and some opposition MPs found themselves caught up in the chaos.
The confrontation intensified in front of Tirana’s city hall, where police deployed water cannons to disperse the crowds. Tear gas was also used earlier in Wilson Square after protesters surrounded a police vehicle.
Opposition leaders condemned what they described as an “unjustified and excessive” use of force. Gazmend Bardhi, the head of the Democratic Party’s parliamentary group, pointed out that similar protests in the past had blocked roads without police intervention. “It is the police’s responsibility to arrange alternative routes, not attack demonstrators,” Bardhi said.
