The political situation in Albania and the student protests have once again attracted the attention of the American media. This time it is Fox News that has dedicated an article to the developments in the country, reporting on the tensions in the Parliament, where opposition MPs lit flares and threw smoke bombs, but also on the student protests that have been demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama for weeks.
In its article, the American media emphasizes that Albania has been engulfed by student-led demonstrations demanding Rama's resignation due to suspicions of government corruption, insufficient school funding, high unemployment, and lack of economic opportunities.
Fox News writes that the protests began on October 13 and then escalated, with clashes between demonstrators and police, as well as incidents of arson in government buildings.
"Protesters also targeted the headquarters of Rama's Socialist Party in Tirana, clashing with police deployed to protect the property. The unrest has since spread to several other cities across the country," the US media article said.
The article also focuses on the reactions of Prime Minister Edi Rama, who has blamed the developments on what he has described as “foreign hands that do not want Albania in the European Union.” According to Fox News, Rama has accused external actors of manipulating the protest movement, claiming that they “represent organized crime and not the students.”
Finally, the American media also mentions the measures announced by the head of government to curb violence during protests. According to the article, Rama has introduced fines of 6 thousand dollars for people who participate in protests that escalate into violence, even in cases where they themselves do not commit violent acts.
Full article:
Opposition lawmakers in Albania disrupted a parliamentary session on Thursday by setting off fireworks that filled the chamber with colored smoke, marking an escalation after weeks of student-led anti-government protests.
Members of the main opposition Democratic Party also blocked access to the podium during a vote on a central bank bill, Reuters reported.
“These lawmakers in power are criminals and deserve tear gas, rubber bullets, cracked skulls and broken bones – not the young,” opposition leader Sali Berisha declared during a speech before his microphone was cut off.
Albanian opposition lawmakers set off fireworks inside a parliamentary session amid weeks of anti-government protests.
As the hall descended into chaos, other opposition members surrounded Berisha, holding blue fireworks, the official color of their party, and displaying images of protesters injured by police rubber bullets.
Albania has been gripped in recent weeks by student-led demonstrations demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama over alleged government corruption, poorly funded schools, widespread unemployment and a lack of economic opportunities.
The protests began on October 13 and quickly turned violent, as demonstrators clashed with police and set government buildings on fire. Protesters also targeted the headquarters of Rama's Socialist Party in Tirana, clashing with police deployed to protect the property.
The unrest has since spread to several other cities across the country.
In response, Rama, who has governed since 2013 and secured a fourth term last year, blamed “foreign hands that do not want Albania in the European Union.” He accused external forces of manipulating the movement, claiming that they “represent organized crime and not the students.”
To curb the violence, Rama introduced strict new measures, including fines of $6,000 for anyone who participates in a protest that turns violent, regardless of whether they personally commit acts of violence.
