Violent confrontations broke out outside Albania’s Parliament on Thursday as anti-government demonstrators clashed with police during the 54th consecutive day of nationwide protests, leaving several people injured and others detained.
Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Parliament building, where security forces had erected metal barricades to prevent demonstrators from approaching the routes used by lawmakers entering the legislature for a plenary session.
The clashes began when police attempted to push the barricades forward and stop protesters from throwing eggs and tomatoes at the vehicles of members of parliament. After efforts to disperse the crowd failed, officers used pepper spray and high-pressure water cannons to push demonstrators back.
Protesters responded by pelting police officers and lawmakers’ vehicles with eggs and tomatoes, turning the streets surrounding Parliament into a scene littered with smashed produce.
At least one police officer and one protester were reported injured after stones were thrown during the confrontation. Dozens of demonstrators also experienced respiratory and eye irritation from the chemical agents used by police, with several requiring medical treatment.
The protest forms part of the movement known as the “Flamingo Revolution,” which has staged daily demonstrations for nearly two months. Protesters are demanding sweeping political change, including the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama and the departure of Albania’s long-standing political establishment. They argue that none of their demands have been addressed by the government.
Following the initial clashes, demonstrators remained in the area, positioning themselves along roads used by lawmakers. A smaller group near the Toptani shopping center engaged in additional confrontations with riot police, throwing eggs, water bottles, and tomatoes while chanting slogans including “Parliament of crime” and calling for both Prime Minister Edi Rama and opposition leader Sali Berisha to face justice.
Throughout the demonstration, which began around 8:00 a.m. and continued into the afternoon, police detained several protesters who had become separated from the main crowd. One woman told local media that her husband was taken into custody after allegedly pushing a garbage container during the protest.
Albanian police had not released an official statement on the number of detainees at the time of publication. Meanwhile, representatives of the ruling Socialist Party accused protesters of engaging in acts of terrorism, while opposition figures called on police to end what they described as excessive use of force against demonstrators.
