Tirana Times
TIRANA, Jan. 20 – Albania’s opposition on Thursday called for government resignation and fresh elections following Cabinet changes prompted by corruption allegations.
Main opposition Socialist Party leader Edi Rama urged the people to come at Friday’s protest calling on Prime Minister Sali Berisha’s government to resign and early polls is held.
“We ask for the government resignation, the parliament be back to a normal work and guaranteeing free and fair elections Šas the only way out from a grave crisis caused from the government,” said Rama at a news conference.
Rama followed the same calls made earlier in the day by all other leaders of the political parties in the opposition coalition.
Two Cabinet changes were made after Ilir Meta, leader of a small party in a coalition with the center-right Democrats, resigned last week as deputy premier and economy minister over bribery allegations related to a state contract, despite denying any wrongdoing.
Rama assured there would be no violence during the anti-government rally in the capital, Tirana.
He turned down voices coming from Meta and the government that alleged criminals were organized to provoke and attack government institutions during the rally.
‘People want to count on us and … there will be no violence, unrest or destruction bit only a people’s demonstration of their will to open the way to fresh polls and oblige the government to resign,” said Rama.
