Opposition protest fizzles out in acts of violence and vandalism

For three hours, Albania’s Democratic Party-led (DP) opposition protested in the capital, targeting key institutions with Molotov cocktails, including the Prime Minister’s office, Tirana’s City Hall, and in an unprecedented act, the headquarters of the Socialist Party. Protesters hurled over 20 homemade bombs at the building, causing significant damage.

Why is it important: As expected, the protest escalated quickly and without provocation into acts of violence.  However, just as quickly it became clear that the opposition had failed to mobilize popular support and it had no clear strategy besides attacking government sites and engaging in acts of vandalism.

Latest developments

• Molotov attacks on government buildings: The protest began at the Council of Ministers, where several trees were set on fire. After a few minutes, the demonstrators led by DP MPs moved to attack the headquarters of the Socialist Party, Tirana’s City Hall, the Ministry of Interior, and Parliament.
• Leader-led vandalism: Democratic Party leaders, positioned at the front, directed protesters toward buildings that were subsequently attacked with Molotovs. Trash bins were set on fire, and advertising signs were destroyed across the streets. In one instance protesters attacking an ambulance.
• Police response and injuries: In response to the violent actions, police deployed tear gas. The Interior Ministry reported that 10 police officers were injured during the clashes.
• Opposition’s stance: At the conclusion of the protest, the Democratic Party’s secretary-general declared this the “first phase of civil disobedience,” claiming that the government is frightened and will be forced to accept their demand for a technical government before any future elections.

Context: The opposition, led by Sali Berisha, who is under house arrest on corruption charges, argues that elections cannot be held under the current administration. Berisha, who has been declared “non-grata” by both the U.S. and the U.K. for significant corruption and links to organized crime, accuses Prime Minister Edi Rama of election manipulation—although no conclusive evidence has ever been presented in court. Ironically, the only official convicted of vote-buying is a Democratic Party candidate for the Himara mayoral race, who was caught in the act by police just 48 hours before the local elections.

What’s next: The opposition has vowed to continue their civil disobedience campaign, but after today’s fiasco, their strategy may face increasing skepticism.