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Clashes in Albania as protesters demand PM Rama resign

Al JazeeraEN 2 min read 100% complete by David D. LeeFebruary 21, 2026 at 07:42 AM
Clashes in Albania as protesters demand PM Rama resign
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Protests erupted in Tirana, Albania, on February 21, 2026, as demonstrators demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama due to a corruption investigation linked to Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku. Clashes between protesters and police resulted in the use of tear gas, water cannons, and Molotov cocktails near the parliament building. Authorities arrested approximately 30 people, while the opposition claimed around 40 of their supporters were detained. The protests were triggered by the indictment and suspension of Balluku in December over a corruption scandal, with several former ministers also facing similar probes. Demonstrators, led by opposition leader Sali Berisha, accused Rama of plunging the country into poverty and corruption.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context
Belinda Balluku 50% Sali Berisha ×250% Democratic Party ×260% Tirana 70% Albania ×280% Edi Rama ×690%

Keywords

protests 90% corruption 80% edi rama 70% albania 70% prime minister 60% political violence 50% resignation 50% tirana 50% democratic party 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Very Negative
Score: -0.60

Source Transparency

Source
Al Jazeera
Classification Confidence
90%

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis.

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protestscorruptionedi ramaalbaniaprime ministerpolitical violenceresignationtiranademocratic party
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