Democrats calls “historic, largest ever” nationwide protest against Rama government
The Democratic Party (PD) has announced a nationwide protest this Saturday. Leader Sali Berisha has described it as the largest opposition demonstration to date, though he has withheld details about the protest’s strategy. Earlier in the day, Berisha met with his allies at PD headquarters to discuss both the protest and strategies for their pre-election coalition.
Why is this important: Opposition leaders have consistently declared each protest a historic event aimed at toppling Rama’s government. However, these claims have repeatedly fallen flat due to a lack of popular support and the fact that protests often coincide with the leaders’ own legal troubles. PD’s internal divisions and declining credibility have further diminished the impact of their political actions.
Context: Before every major protest, opposition leaders—including Berisha and his predecessor, Lulzim Basha—have made similar grand claims of success. These predictions, however, have not materialized, as the Democratic Party has struggled to gather widespread public support.
In recent years, PD protests have coincided suspiciously with moments when opposition leaders face judicial challenges. This has led to perceptions that these events are motivated more by personal political survival than by genuine efforts to address public concerns.
Additionally, Berisha’s remaining allies are minor figures whose political relevance is limited. Most have only managed to secure parliamentary seats by appearing on PD’s safe candidate lists. In the past year alone, two new splinter parties have formed from PD, weakening the main opposition further. Berisha, who is now 80 years old, has also been declared “non grata” by the United States and the United Kingdom. He is currently facing corruption charges over allegations that, during his term as prime minister, he enabled his son-in-law to privatize public land and develop it into a lucrative real estate project.
What was said: During his press conference, Berisha emphasized that PD will push for key amendments to the electoral code, particularly regarding the voting rights of Albanian emigrants. One of the proposals supported by PD calls for the state to fully cover the cost of postal services for emigrant ballots. However, the party opposes extending the deadline for submitting candidate lists, which is crucial for producing and distributing ballots on time for those abroad.
The PD has also proposed that Albanian emigrants without official Albanian identification documents should be allowed to vote using identification from the countries where they reside. Berisha accused the government of intentionally delaying electoral reforms to suppress the vote of the Albanian diaspora.
What’s next: The nationwide protest is scheduled for Saturday afternoon. Despite Berisha’s strong rhetoric, doubts remain about the protest’s turnout and impact, given PD’s weakened political standing. Observers will be watching closely to see if this protest can overcome the opposition’s recent failures to mobilize large-scale public support.
Go deeper
SPAK Chief defends electoral crime task force amid growing backlash
Published on February 21, 2025
Why is this important: The SPAK strategy is the latest move by the institution to ignite intense political and legal debate over the boundaries of its authority. While some civil society actors have expressed support, the task force—set to deploy prosecutors and investigators in the field during the electoral campaign—has drawn sharp criticism from politicians and jurists who argue it constitutes an overreach into political affairs and an infringement on citizens’ political rights. Prime Minister Edi Rama has openly opposed the initiative, calling it a “lapse in judgment” and insisting that political parties cannot be placed under surveillance during an election period. Others have pointed out that surveillance and prevention fall within the constitutional mandate of the police and intelligence services, not prosecutors.
PM Rama meets Tirana Municipality staff, condemns gathering outside SPAK and pledges full support
Published on February 21, 2025
Why is this important: Both SPAK and the Special Court (GJKKO) reacted to the gathering of Veliaj’s supporters outside their buildings, claiming that such actions intimidate judges and prosecutors. They also accused the police of failing to intervene, while law enforcement responded that it was a spontaneous gathering, not an officially planned protest.
PM lashes out at SPAK about election surveillance
Published on February 20, 2025
Why is this important: SPAK has created a special task force, split into two investigative teams, tasked with preventing and investigating electoral crimes before and after the May 11 elections. These teams will be deployed in all 12 electoral districts of Albania. This on-the-ground investigation approach is unprecedented, as prosecutors will be actively present during the campaign period where political parties hold their activities. While SPAK claims the initiative aims to combat vote-buying, critics argue it positions the anti-corruption body as an actor in the electoral campaign, rather than an impartial observer.