The opposition in Albania protested late Thursday in Tirana against the Government of Prime Minister Edi Rama and against the mayor of the capital city, Erion Veliaj, fighting with the police and throwing molotov cocktails.

The protest started in front of the Government building and continued towards the community of Tirana and the Assembly building, where the protesters demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Rama, accusing him of "plunging the country into corruption".

Former Prime Minister Sali Berisha from the Democratic Party addressed the protesters with a speech, through a video message from his apartment, where he is under house arrest under suspicion of corruption in the privatization of the former "Partizani" sports complex.

Protesters threw Molotov cocktails at the Government building as soon as he spoke. The police intervened immediately, putting out the flames that engulfed the building's entrance.

Police officers called on the protesters to distance themselves from acts of violence.

"Stop the molotov cocktail attack on the police and institutions! The organizers of the protest should take measures and the violent and masked persons should leave the protest", was the call of the police, referring to some of the protesters who were seen at the protest with black masks on their faces and bags.

The situation before the Government was brought under control within a few minutes.

Berisha called for a technical government and asked other opposition parties to join his initiative.

"Free elections are Albania's salvation, we must unite for a technical government, as there cannot be free elections with Edi Rama as prime minister," said Berisha.

Only this, he said, is the solution to stop the departure of Albanians from the country and to inspire hope for change.

He called on Rama to accept the "technical government".

allies of the Democratic Party, such as the leader of the Freedom Party, Ilir Meta, Vangjel Dule, the leader of the party representing the Greek minority, but also deputies who, until recently, supported Lulzim Basha's group and were against Sali Berisha, took part in the protest. at the head of the DP.

In his speech, Ilir Meta attacked the head of the Special Prosecutor's Office, Altin Dumani, and invited the Albanians of Kosovo and North Macedonia "to overthrow the Government of Prime Minister Edi Rama".

After the rally in front of the Prime Minister's Office, the protesters marched towards the municipality of Tirana, where for some time the opposition has held protests and demanded the resignation of the mayor Erion Veliaj.

In the protest in front of the municipality of Tirana there were also tensions, because the protesters pushed the police forces trying to break the police cordon and enter the municipality building.

The protest ended with calls for Prime Minister Edi Rama and the mayor of Tirana to leave, with the claim that they are "corrupt". Since March, the opposition has held 12 protests in front of the municipality demanding Veliaj's removal from office, while this protest was national first before the Prime Minister's Office.

In March of this year, several directors and former directors of the municipality of Tirana were arrested under suspicion of corruption and concealment of assets. Five former officials of this municipality are suspected to be the real owners of the company "5D" who, according to preliminary investigations, have received tenders from the institution where they worked.

For both of these issues, Erion Veliaj has been accused by the opposition of being involved. In his reactions, Veliaj distanced himself from the former officials under investigation and stated that anyone involved in illegal activities must face justice.

On April 30, Veliaj stayed at the Special Prosecutor's Office against Organized Crime and Corruption (SPAK) for about eight hours. He told reporters that he went to SPAK as an associate and had been asking for a meeting for some time.

During his stay at SPAK, Veliaj said that he gave all the clarifications regarding the Tirana incinerator.

For this matter, in December last year, 15 arrest warrants were issued, including against Tirana municipality officials. Meanwhile, in August of last year, the company that won the tender for the construction of the incinerator in Tirana, included in the other two incinerators in Fier and Elbasan, was seized.

The protest ended after the protesters went from the Assembly building to the headquarters of the Democratic Party, where they warned of another protest for next Thursday, July 18./REL/