Over 20,000 anti-government protesters clashed with police
Jan. 21 in the Albanian capital of Tirana. The protest left at least three
people dead from police bullets, at least 130 protesters injured and 15 police
vehicles destroyed.
The liberal opposition Socialists, led by Tirana Mayor Edi
Rama, claim that the conservative establishment engaged in election fraud in
2009. Their calls for new elections have been rejected by conservative Prime Minister
Berisha, who has accused the opposition of attempting to instigate a
“Tunisian-style” revolt.
Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Tirana and
other towns again Feb. 4. “The opposition will continue its peaceful
protests to get the country out of this acute crisis that is getting worse
every day,” Rama said. (AFP, Feb. 4)
Capitalism has failed to bring a better life to Albanian
workers since the fall of its communist-led regime in 1990. That regime, though
besieged by Western imperialism, had provided economic development for Albania
in food, industry and electricity.
