TIRANA, Jan. 8 – The headquarters of Albania’s main opposition Democratic Party turned into a battleground between supporters of former leader Sali Berisha and private security and police protecting incumbent leader Lulzim Basha on Saturday, with calm returning and protesters dispersing after a massive police response.
Berisha supporters had called a protest to take over party headquarters after they held an assembly and vote in December to remove Basha from office. Basha and his supporters do not recognize the vote and the assembly held by Berisha supporters.
Berisha supporters tore through doors and broke windows shortly before the start of the official protest scheduled for noon. They were met with iron-reinforced doors, then chemical irritants thrown by what appeared to be private security inside the building.
An attempt by several people to climb the stairs to the second floor, on a balcony on the left side, was repulsed by several people from inside the building, who beat at least two men with clubs and left one bleeding, television footage showed.
Police then intervened in force, with massive amounts of tear gas, quickly pushing protesters out of the area.
Police said they were called in by members of parliament inside the building because they believed “lives were at risk.”
After attempts to go back to party headquarters were met with firm police resistance, Berisha called on protesters to disperse so they could take care of the wounded and and get help for those detained. More than 30 people have been detained, local media reported, after they refused police orders to leave the area.
“This is a revolution that aims to bring the Democratic Party back to power and to end the narco-state,” Berisha said. “Let’s disperse to return soon to even greater battles than what we saw today.”
Basha’s office issued a statement saying: “Sali Berisha is endangering the lives of dozens of Democrats with acts of violence today! In an unprecedented act, mercenaries under his command are attacking the Democratic Party building, putting the lives of top Democratic Party leaders in the center and in the districts in real danger.”
Background to today’s clashes
Berisha and his supporters, which polls indicate make up a large portion, if not a majority of the party membership, are vying to officially take over the main opposition Democratic Party after Berisha was expelled by Basha from the parliamentary group due to Berisha’s designation by the United States as inadmissible due “to significant corruption.”
Berisha supporters held an assembly on Dec. 11 and a membership vote that sacked incumbent Democratic Party leader Basha and replaced him with a transitory ruling body until leadership elections can be held in the spring.
However, neither is officially recognized by Basha and his supporters or the Albanian courts, leaving the opposition divided and in limbo.
“The solution in the DP is simple — for Mr. Basha and Mr. Berisha to withdraw — and allow a third leader, over time, to take over through a calm process. It appears neither is ready to that,” Lutfi Dervishi, an independent analyst, told the A2 television station.
International reactions
The U.S. Embassy issued a statement on Twitter condemning “the protestors’ use of force.”
“The U.S. is deeply concerned with rising tensions at the Democratic Party headquarters building and protestors’ use of force. We call on protest organizers to reject violence and exercise calm. Those inciting violence or undermining the rule of law will be held accountable,” U.S. Ambassador Yuri Kim wrote on Twitter.
The European Union Delegation also said it condemns the acts of violence and calls on all actors involved to exercise calm and restraint.
“There must be no room for violence in politics. All concerned have the responsibility to ensure that demonstrations are conducted in an orderly and peaceful manner and to guarantee the safety of all people present, Albania’s EU integration path needs a solid opposition that contributes to the country’s reform agenda, responding to the aspiration of the Albanian people who overwhelmingly want to see Albania into the EU,” the EU Delegation said in a statement.
Read more: Analysis: Future uncertain for DP as parallel assemblies strive for control
