Police deployed water cannons and tear gas to block the crowd on Dëshmorët e Kombit Boulevard near Rinia Park. The confrontation broke out after protesters attempted to move north toward the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Ministry of Finance buildings.
The unrest is part of a sustained anti-government campaign led by the Democratic Party, which is demanding the resignation of Socialist Party Prime Minister Edi Rama. Berisha and opposition leaders accuse Rama’s administration of systemic corruption, pointing to recent scandals involving high-ranking officials, and arguing that the government is hindering Albania’s progress toward European Union membership.
The demonstration, which began nearly an hour late and took place under intermittent heavy rain, saw a smaller turnout than previous opposition rallies. But a small, militant core was still present. While the initial gathering and speeches outside the Prime Minister’s Office concluded without incident, tensions escalated as the group began marching toward the government’s administrative core.
State police established a skirmish line at the intersection of Rruga Myslym Shyri, preventing the march from advancing further. The standoff lasted for around an hour before the crowd retreated and dispersed without further incident outside the Democratic Party headquarters.