Opposition protests expected in Albania on Saturday

In a show of unity, Albania’s two main opposition parties will take to the streets of Tirana today to pressure the centre-left government to step down.

The demonstrations follow violent protests last month over the alleged unconstitutionality of the appointment of a new prosecutor general. The position oversees the judiciary and has authority equal to that of the nation’s top courts. While the opposition supports such an independent legal figure, it alleges that the government has used the appointment as a means to shield corrupt MPs from prosecution.

The creation of the office is part of a series of key judicial reforms aimed at curbing political influence in the legal system. They are key to Albania’s next round of EU accession negotiations, which are supported by key allies in the EU and US.

Expect political tensions to remain high as the opposition continues to push for either new elections or a technocrat government. Despite high public disapproval, the government has a comfortable parliamentary majority and is expected to continue to advance its judicial reforms.

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