TIRANA, March 11, 2022 – Protest rallies, small and large, are taking place across Albania as residents express anger at the increase of the cost of living and myriad of other grievances that have been accumulated over the years.
The protests were sparked by a sudden increase in fuel prices seen as speculative even taking into account the turmoil in global markets.
Independent experts say the government should have acted quickly to cushion the increase in prices as counterparts in neighboring Kosovo and North Macedonia had done.
Albania’s Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama’s first response was to say that he cannot interfere with the “free market” to avoid the price spike, later backtracking, hastening a return from a visit to Dubai to announce the formation a fuel price-control body as protesters chanted outside his office window.
Albanians already pay the highest fuel prices in the region as the government levies heavy taxes on fuel, which make up more than half the ultimate price, economy experts say. Moreover, lack of proper market monitoring and regulation over the years has led to further speculation and price increases, they add.
Some of the protests in Tirana led to people being detained by police. But the protests have largely been peaceful and ordinary citizens took turns to speaking on megaphones
Protesters include union organizers, students and professors, well-known artists and retired people who feel the cost of living expenses most.
All speakers voiced the same demand for the protection of the poor from the market prices, dismissing the government’s explanations that market fluctuations have occurred due to the war in Ukraine.
Prime Minister Edi Rama took to speaking live on Facebook as protesters rallied below his window and promised “to stop any tendency of speculation.”
He announced the creation of a board made up of government and fuel company officials that will oversee fuel prices at retail sales.
“We will not allow previously unapproved prices to appear at the point of supply and will impose measures on anyone who violates the measures,” Rama said.
Rama also warned that the country could also end up with no fuel at all, a worse case scenario.
Law enforcement said they guarantee peaceful protests, but will not tolerate violent acts and people who impede traffic, as some sit-ins in main Albania streets had done.
Tirana is not alone in protests. Smaller protests have taken place in virtually every city and town in the country.
In addition to price increases, the protests are airing a series of accumulated economic grievances that have been built up over the years.
