Headlines
Graft allegations spark clashes in Albania between police and protesters
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 20, 2026
2 min readLast updated: February 20, 2026
Quick Summary
Police clashed with opposition protesters in Tirana as a graft probe into Deputy PM Belinda Balluku intensified. Demonstrators demand Prime Minister Edi Rama resign. ([aljazeera.com](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/2/11/antigovernment-protests-in-albania-turn-violent-at-least-13-arrested?utm_source=openai))
Corruption Claims Ignite Tirana Unrest as Police Clash with Protesters
Protests Over Corruption Allegations in Tirana
TIRANA, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Police in Tirana fired tear gas and used water cannon in clashes on Friday with opposition protesters demanding the resignation of the Albanian government following corruption allegations against the deputy prime minister.
Police Response and Protest Tactics
Demonstrators hurled petrol bombs and fireworks at the Prime Minister Edi Rama's office and police responded with tear gas and water cannon.
Allegations Against Deputy PM Belinda Balluku
Political tensions have escalated since December after a special prosecution unit indicted Rama's deputy, Belinda Balluku, for allegedly interfering in public tenders for major infrastructure projects and favouring certain companies, charges Balluku denies.
Crowd Size and Chants
Thousands of opposition Democratic Party supporters chanted "Rama, go away" and "Rama in jail" carrying Albanian and party flags.
Opposition Leaders’ Calls for Resignation
"Edi Rama's days are numbered," said Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha. "Let them know that even if they go behind the sun, we will find them and punish them with the full force of the law.”
Balluku Suspended from Duty
Legal Actions and Immunity Debate
An anti-corruption court has suspended Balluku from office but the Special Prosecution Office, tasked with fighting corruption, has demanded parliament lift her immunity to enable her arrest.
Parliament’s Role in Lifting Immunity
Rama's Socialist Party, which last year secured a fourth consecutive term, has a comfortable parliamentary majority and it is unclear if and when the assembly will lift the immunity of Balluku, who also served as an infrastructure minister and is a close ally of the prime minister.
Government Response to Judiciary
Rama has complained about judicial overreach, especially with pre-trial detentions.
EU Membership Context and Reform Pressures
Albania aims to join the European Union by 2030 but the bloc says the country must do more to fight crime and corruption.
(Reporting by Florion Goga, writing by Fatos Bytyci; editing by Alex Richardson)
Key Takeaways
- •Police used tear gas and water cannon as thousands protested in Tirana; at least 13 arrests and 16 hospitalizations were reported. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/31cf7519545985569f1e9de1f9a7c506?utm_source=openai))
- •Unrest is driven by SPAK’s charges alleging Deputy PM Belinda Balluku interfered in public tenders. ([cna.al](https://www.cna.al/english/aktualitet/spak-njofton-akuzen-per-belinda-ballukun-i444618?utm_source=openai))
- •An anti-corruption court suspended Balluku from office; prosecutors have asked parliament to lift her immunity for arrest. ([tiranatimes.com](https://www.tiranatimes.com/deputy-pm-balluku-suspended-as-spak-probe-widens/?utm_source=openai))
- •Opposition leader Sali Berisha led rallies demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation amid repeated violent demonstrations. ([euronews.com](https://www.euronews.com/2026/02/11/police-fire-tear-gas-as-albania-opposition-protest-turns-violent?utm_source=openai))
- •The turmoil unfolds as Albania pursues EU accession by 2030, with corruption a key hurdle cited by observers. ([elpais.com](https://elpais.com/internacional/2026-02-19/albania-el-laboratorio-de-europa-en-el-que-la-ia-combate-o-esconde-la-corrupcion.html?utm_source=openai))
Frequently Asked Questions about Graft allegations spark clashes in Albania between police and protesters
1What is the main topic?
Clashes in Tirana between police and opposition protesters over corruption allegations tied to Deputy PM Belinda Balluku, sparking calls for Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation.
2Who is Belinda Balluku and what are the charges?
She is Albania’s deputy prime minister and a former infrastructure minister. SPAK alleges she interfered in public tenders; a special court suspended her from office pending proceedings.
3What happens next in parliament?
Prosecutors have requested that lawmakers lift Balluku’s immunity to enable arrest. A parliamentary decision will shape the pace of the investigation and the political fallout.
