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2019–2021 Albanian political crisis

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Starting from February 16th the opposition parties organized a series of protests and rallies against the government to demand new elections and the formation of a technocrat government that would ensure the fairness of the electoral process, citing electoral fraud and corruption in the government as the main reasons for the need for change.

The opposition coalition consists of the Democratic party of Albania, the Socialist Movement for Integration, the Party for Justice, Integration and Unity, the Republican Party and other minor opposition parties. After the first protests opposition MP's decided to resign in mass from Parliament.

The Background

Following a 6 month boycott period, the opposition parties returned to parliament in January and announced mass protests to be held against the Rama Government. Meanwhile, the governments was recently reshuffled as an aftermath of the student protests.

In a similar rhetoric as in 2017 the opposition coalition accused the government of corruption and electoral fraud. The first nationwide protest was announced on February 16th in Tirana. Prior to that, the State Police issued a warning about the presence of criminal elements in the protest which was condemned as a form of intimidation by the opposition coalition. [1]

Protests and Mass Resignation

On February 16th opposition supporters from different cities gathered in Tirana demanding new elections and the resignation of the Rama Government. The protest turned violent as there were clashes with the police and use of tear gas and water cannon against the protesters. Some of them tried to enter the Prime Minister's Office as they broke through police ranks. [2] Thousands of opposition supporters attended the protest that was considered as being one the biggest protests that the country had seen in years.[3]

In the aftermath, the opposition parties announced that all their MP's in the Parliament would resign from the parliament in an unprecedented act. On February 22nd another protest was announced outside the Parliament's building, while other MP's were attending the plenary session. The peaceful demonstration culminated in a march led by opposition leader Lulzim Basha and members of the opposition parties in the Parliament, to hand over signed statements giving up their parliamentary seats and demanding fresh elections.[4] More than 40 seats were vacated and the Central Elections Commission started in the following days the procedures to replace the MP's with mostly unknown and inexperienced figures that were part of the candidate lists during the 2017 election.

Some MP's from opposition parties refused to resign their mandate, among them the daughter of one of the founders of the Democratic Party Rudina Hajdari.

On March 16 another big demonstration was announced. It started outside the Prime Minister's Office building and continued outside the Parliament, where once again protesters clashed with police and water cannons and tear gas were used to controlling the situation.[5]

Reactions

After the protest of 16th February turned violent, the US Embassy in Tirana issued a press statement condemning the violence and destruction. Other foreign embassies issued similar statements condemning the violence and calling for political dialogue to solve the situation.

The mission of OSCE in Albania called the instigators and the perpetrators to “bear the responsibility for the incidents.[6]

Following the mass resignation of the opposition MP's, the European Union condemned the extreme action through a joint statement issued by the EU Diplomatic Chief Federica Mogherini and Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn, considering the acts as counterproductive and against the democratic choice of Albanian citizens, undermining progress in the path to accessing the European Union and hindering the functioning of democracy in Albania.[7][8]

References

  1. ^ Erebara, Gjergj. "Albania Opposition Prepares Big Rally Against 'Government of Thugs'". Balkans Insight. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  2. ^ "Clashes with police in Albanian opposition rally". TRT World. trtworld. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  3. ^ "Protests Against Rama's Government Turn Violent in Albania". BalkanInsight. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  4. ^ "Albanian opposition in mass resignation move to demand fresh elections". Euronews. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  5. ^ Semini, Llazar. "Albanian anti-govt protesters try to storm parliament". Washington Post. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  6. ^ "Protests Against Rama's Government Turn Violent in Albania". BalkanInsight. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  7. ^ "Albanian opposition in mass resignation move to demand fresh elections". Euronews. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  8. ^ "Statement by High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini and Commissioner Johannes Hahn on the latest developments in Albania". EEAS. The European External Action Service. Retrieved 25 March 2019.

Template:Anti-government protests in the 21st century

Category:2019 in Albania Category:Politics of Albania Category:Protests in Albania Category:Riots and civil disorder in Albania Opposition Protest Albanian opposition protests Category:February 2019 events in Europe Category:March 2019 events in Europe

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