Anti-government protesters clashed with police in the Albanian capital on Tuesday night, February 10. The clashes took place amid protests demanding the resignation of controversial deputy prime minister Belinda Balluku.
First modification: 02/10/2026 - 22:08
Protesters in Albania's capital threw firebombs at a government building and police responded with water shots in the latest in a series of violent protests that pose a threat to the stability of Prime Minister Edi Rama's long term in power, which began in 2013.
In the riots, four officers were injured in the altercations, local news network A2CNN reported.
Political tensions have intensified since December after a special prosecution unit accused Rama's deputy, Belinda Balluku, of allegedly interfering in public tenders for major infrastructure projects and favoring certain companies, accusations Balluku denies.
Balluku is accused of abuse of power in a public infrastructure contract case, including allegations that contracting procedures were manipulated to favor certain companies.
This Tuesday, several people threw Molotov cocktails and other objects and the Police responded with tear gas and water cannons.
"A group chose force instead of words, attacking and injuring police officers. Violence can never be justified," said Interior Minister Albana Kociu.
The political dispute in Albania focuses on judicial independence and corruption between the Government, led by the prime minister, the socialist Edi Rama, and the conservative opposition.
Tuesday's protest began in central Tirana, when thousands of supporters of the opposition Democratic Party (PD) gathered in front of the main government institutions.
The Tirana Prosecutor's Office suspended Balluku from his duties, a legal measure that was also supported by the Constitutional Court of the small Balkan country. However, Rama refuses to remove her, arguing that the presumption of innocence must be respected.
Addressing his supporters, PD leader Sali Berisha accused the government of being deeply intertwined with criminal networks and corruption.
"Rama has declared war on the judicial system, and if we really want to save Albania we must remove Edi Rama and declare him the most implacable enemy of the Albanians and of Albania," said the conservative, prime minister between 2005 and 2013.
Rama, who has governed the country since 2013, won parliamentary elections last year with an absolute majority, securing him a fourth consecutive term.
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With EFE and Reuters
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