Clashes erupt at antigovernment protest in Albanian capital Tirana

Al JazeeraCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete by By News AgenciesJanuary 25, 2026 at 02:03 PM

AI Summary

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Clashes occurred in Tirana, Albania, on Saturday, January 25, 2026, during an antigovernment protest led by opposition leader Sali Berisha. Thousands rallied, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama and his Socialist Party government over alleged corruption. Protesters attempted to breach police cordons near parliament, resulting in injuries to at least ten officers and the arrest of 25 protesters. The demonstration follows recent corruption allegations against high-ranking officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, and the arrests of Tirana's mayor and former ministers. Corruption remains a significant challenge for Albania as it seeks to join the European Union.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Erion Veliaj 40% Ilir Meta 40% European Union 50% Democratic Party 60% Belinda Balluku ×360% Socialist Party 70% Sali Berisha ×280% Albania ×280% Edi Rama ×490% Tirana ×390%

Keywords

corruption 100% antigovernment protest 90% political clashes 70% government resignation 60% prime minister 60% political opposition 60% arrests 50% organized crime 50% european union 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Negative

Score: -0.40

Source Transparency

Source

Al Jazeera

Political Lean

Center (0.00)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

Geographic Perspective

Tirana

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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corruption antigovernment protest political clashes government resignation prime minister political opposition arrests organized crime european union

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