Opposition forces in Albania are currently staging a nationwide protest in the capital city of Tirana. The primary demand of the conservative opposition is the replacement of the current government with a technocratic caretaker Cabinet before the upcoming parliamentary election next year. The opposition, led by the Democratic Party, accuses the leftist government of electoral manipulation and the usurpation of powers, particularly within the judiciary.
The recent protests were triggered by the imprisonment of a Democratic Party member on charges of slander, which the party claims to be politically motivated. The convicted member had previously called for the resignation of the interior minister over allegations that were later proven to be false. Despite appealing the conviction, the member is currently serving a one-year sentence.
