Albania: Opposition coalition plans protests May 11 /update 11

Event

Albanian political opposition parties are planning to hold nationwide demonstrations on Saturday, May 11. Rallies are expected to take place in major urban areas, including the capital Tirana. As of Friday, April 26, exact details regarding the protests have not been released, but typical gathering points include outside the Prime Minister’s Office and the parliament building. A heightened security presence and localized traffic disruptions are anticipated around all protest sites.

The protests were announced shortly after several opposition political parties, including the Democratic Party (PD) and the Social Movement for Integration (LSI), formed a new coalition under the name Democratic Conviction. Opposition leaders are calling for a boycott of the upcoming June 30 local elections. Anti-government demonstrations will likely continue to occur regularly, particularly during the weeks leading up to the vote.

Context

Opposition supporters have been holding regular demonstrations in Tirana in recent months, which have sometime turned violent. On April 13, police officers fired tear gas to disperse protesters who attempted to storm the parliament building. The opposition leaders are demanding fresh elections and call for the departure of Prime Minister Edi Rama. Prime Minister Rama and his party have been accused of manipulating the results of the 2017 parliamentary elections, corruption, and having links to organized crime.

Advice

Individuals in Albania, particularly in Tirana, are advised to monitor developments to the situation, avoid all protests and demonstrations as a precaution, anticipate a heightened security presence and transportation disruptions in the vicinity of the protests, and adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities.