Washington Post echoes events in Albania: Opposition blocks roads in anti-government protests

The opposition has blocked Albania's four main intersections in an anti-government protest, accusing it of links to organised crime and of increasing taxes and poverty.

The opposition Democratic Party boycotted Thursday's parliamentary session to launch a “civil disobedience campaign” by blocking the country's main roads and urging people not to pay rising taxes.

Hundreds of opposition supporters gathered at four intersections across the country, blocking traffic and demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama's resignation. Police said they considered the gatherings illegal because they received no request to keep them.

The Democrats suffered an overwhelming defeat in last year's vote, securing only 43 seats in the 140-seat parliament. Albania, a NATO member since 2009, has been granted EU candidate status in 2014 and hopes to start negotiations this year./ The Washington Post