In Tirana, clashes occurred between police and opposition protesters on Friday as demonstrators called for the resignation of the Albanian government amid corruption allegations against the Deputy Prime Minister. The police responded to the protests by deploying tear gas and water cannons, while protesters threw Molotov cocktails and fireworks at the Prime Minister Edi Rama's office. The unrest is rooted in escalating political tensions that have been mounting since December, following a special prosecutor's unit charging the Deputy Prime Minister, Belinda Balluku, with alleged interference in public tenders for major infrastructure projects and favoritism toward certain companies, charges that she denies.

This protest reflects deepening discontent within the Albanian populace regarding governmental integrity and transparency. Thousands of supporters from the opposition Democratic Party rallied in the streets, chanting slogans such as "Rama must go" and "Rama to prison," displaying their dissatisfaction with the current administration. This level of anger and unrest suggests that the political landscape in Albania is becoming increasingly polarized, with the possibility of further protests and escalated confrontations as the opposition seeks to capitalize on these allegations.

The political future of Prime Minister Edi Rama appears uncertain as the leader of the Democratic Party, Sali Berisha, claimed that "Rama's days are numbered." The government's handling of the situation will be closely scrutinized, as continued unrest could lead to a wider crisis, challenging the current administration’s stability and potentially impacting Albania's pursuit of European Union membership, which is often contingent on political stability and governance reform.