The Albanian opposition meets and aims for a technocratic cabinet before the elections

Opposition forces in Albania held a nationwide protest in the country’s capital on Monday, demanding the government be replaced by a technocratic interim cabinet before next year’s parliamentary elections.

The conservative opposition accuses the left-wing government of manipulating previous elections and usurping powers, including those of the judiciary.

Former Prime Minister Sali Berisha’s Democratic Party held protests in parliament last week after one of their colleagues was convicted of defamation and jailed, which they saw as politically motivated.

Ervin Salianji demanded the resignation of the then interior minister in 2018 over allegations of his brother’s illegal activities, which were later found to be fabricated. Salianji, who began serving a one-year prison sentence just over a week ago, has appealed his conviction to the Supreme Court.

The Democrats are calling for a cabinet made up of technocrats and accusing Prime Minister Edi Rama of the ruling left-wing Socialist Party of manipulating previous votes. They have long accused Rama’s socialists of usurping power, including the judiciary, and have staged violent protests against the government since 2013.

Democrats are also calling for Berisha’s release from house arrest during an investigation into alleged corruption.

The opposition has called for civil disobedience. She started the protest with a rally in front of the main government building, where no speeches will take place, and then expanded the protest by blocking traffic at Tirana’s main intersections.

A tire was burned in front of the presidential office, not far from the main government buildings.

Hundreds of police officers, equipped with anti-gas masks, have taken positions to protect key government institutions. Police have said traffic has been blocked on many streets in central Tirana.

The US embassy in Tirana has warned its citizens to stay away from the protest.

Albania will hold parliamentary elections next year.

The European Union and the United States have urged the opposition to resume dialogue with the government, saying force will not help the country integrate into the 27-nation bloc.

In 2020, the EU decided to start full membership negotiations with Albania, and later this month Tirana will begin talks with the bloc on the country’s relationship with the rule of law, the functioning of democratic institutions and the fight against corruption.