Albania protests against Prime Minister Rama escalate

Albanian opposition supporters broke a police cordon on Saturday after throwing petrol bombs and flares and began trying to smash the doors of the building that houses the office of Prime Minister Edi Rama, in a protest calling for him to step down.

A security officer appealed for calm as some protesters tried to dismantle scaffolding that protects an illuminated canopy – a piece of artwork dear to Rama.

Tear gas was thrown from above on the rioters, who were using metal rods to try to break the doors.

Demonstrators are demanding that Prime Minister Edi Rama resign and a transitional cabinet led by the opposition take the reins. Democratic Party leader Lulzim Basha accuses PM Rama of rigging the 2017 parliamentary elections—which saw the Socialist Party win an outright majority—and abusing his power in pursuing aggressive judicial and property law reforms.

Today’s development marks the latest event in a string of anti-government actions. On Thursday, a lawmaker threw a jar of ink at PM Rama in parliament in an incident that underlined the deep well of bad blood between government and opposition.