• Tweeter

  • republish

The Albanian opposition manifests in Tirana, the capital, on May 25, 2019. REUTERS / Florion Goga

In Albania, the opposition organized this Saturday, May 25 in the capital Tirana a protest to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama, whom she accuses of corruption. It requires early parliamentary elections, organized by a transitional government.

He had christened it "The light of hope". For the leaders of the Albanian opposition, Saturday's demonstration was to be the largest ever organized in the country since the 1990s and the advent of pluralism. For about three hours, the entire opposition demonstrated in front of the Boulevard Dëshmorët e Kombit, the main artery of the capital Tirana. Illuminated in the light of their mobile phones, the protesters chanted, "Rama, go away."

Since February, demonstrations are regularly organized in the country to demand the departure of Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama and early elections. Events largely marked by violence. On Saturday, the EU delegation in Albania, along with opposition leaders and Albanian authorities called for a peaceful rally. Denouncing in his Facebook account " violence and destruction ", the US embassy in Tirana also called " all parties " to show " restraint ". Their call has apparently been heard. For the first time this Saturday, no incident or confrontation with the police has been recorded.

Prime Minister Edi Rama was quick to invite his political opponent, the leader of the Democratic Party, Lulzim Basha, to the dialogue table during the day. But the latter was determined to continue the challenge. The " movement will continue until the overthrow of the regime and the formation of a technical government responsible for organizing early elections, " he promised.

It is in this tense context that President of the Republic Ilir Meta declared yesterday that he is ready to postpone the municipal elections scheduled for June 30, calling on the parties to show greater responsibility and give priority to national interests. from the country.

The Albanian political life is marked by a great verbal violence, right and left exchanging insults and accusations of corruption or links with organized crime. Albania hopes to open negotiations for EU membership this year, but this country of more than 2.8 million people is invited to make progress in the fight against organized crime and corruption.