Albanian Opposition Leader Attacked during Anti-govt Protest

During an anti-government demonstration on Tuesday in the Albanian capital, which was held close to a summit of Western Balkan and European Union officials, the leader of the opposition center-right Democratic Party of Albania came under attack.

Hundreds of demonstrators were being led by former president and prime minister Sali Berisha, 78, and former president Ilir Meta toward the summit area when a guy emerged from the crowd and hit him in the face.

Bodyguards quickly subdued the assailant. Witnesses saw Berisha's face was covered in blood. The identity of the attacker and the motive behind the attack are unknown.

The 31-year-old suspect who was apprehended, according to the police, had "psychiatric abnormalities" and had previously been accused of violent crimes and drug trafficking.

The opposition was protesting Prime Minister Edi Rama's alleged corruption, which they also attribute to the country's dilemma of rising living costs and the departure of young Albanians seeking a better life in Western European nations.

Rama was specifically blamed for the attack by Berisha, who claimed he intended to prevent the opposition from holding the rally. Rama condemned the incident and argued that the perpetrator should be dealt with by the legal system since "violence has never been the method to handle any issue or concern.

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, prices in Albania have increased by more than 8% this year, particularly for essentials like food and fuel. In contrast to double-digit inflation elsewhere in Europe, Rama claims that his Cabinet has kept inflation low. He also mentioned that the government provides subsidies for power for households and small enterprises. 

Since U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken last year blocked Berisha and his close relatives from entering the U.S. for "corrupt conduct that harmed democracy during his 2005–2013 term as prime minister, Berisha's party has been beset by internal strife. 

This year, Britain also did the same. As the conflict between Russia and Ukraine threatens to alter the geopolitical balance in the region, Western Balkan leaders and EU leaders are meeting in Tirana on Tuesday to discuss ways to strengthen their relationship.