Some injured as protesters clash with police in Albania's antigovernmental protest

Police established an expanded security perimeter around the Assembly after the protesters had warned of holding the rally for Thursday.

Most of the MPs entered the site from the side entrance, where they faced calls from protesters “they did not represent us”, “Crime Department”, “Albania seeks revolution”.

Demonstrators hold a hurdle as they clash with police during a demonstration against the government in Tirana, Albania, July 23rd 2026.

Protests in Albania, called “Flaging Revolution”, are on 54th day.

They initially began as opposition to the project supported by US President Donald Trump's groom, Jared Kouchner, for the construction of a resort in Zvrinec, near Vlora.

But then demand expanded, including other environmentally friendly, urban development, territory management, and other social and political issues.

Protesters call for Rama Government's resignation and the distribution of the Assembly.

The situation before the Assembly on Thursday was tense when protesters started throwing eggs and tomatoes.

Some protesters managed to remove part of the metal fence and clashed with police officers. Police used water with pressure and pepper spray to disperse protesters.

Police use a waterball during an antigovernmental demonstration in Tirana, Albania, July 23rd 2026.

Also, some protesters tried to block the flow of vehicles on the road near the Assembly, calling on the drivers of the vehicles to join the protest. Police intervened to avoid blocking the road.

During the clashes, both protest and police officers were injured. Authorities have not yet shown the number of injured.

Debate Within the Parliament

While the protests were taking place near the Parliament, the next session, which has 34 issues on the agenda, was being held within it.

The opposition accused police of excessive use of force against protesters.

The [inner] minister must explain the substances that are being used against them, unusual, causing the body to burn to citizens”, Democrat MP Agron Gjekmarkaj said.

These claims were responded to by Interior Minister Besfort Labitari: “are certified by production companies and used by the EU and US”.

The debate relates to several images published by protesters, showing that the water thrown from the police in their direction holds a blue color and that according to some, it causes burns in the body.

Government and majority representatives have claimed since the start of protests that even Iran-related interests and influences are behind them.

Taulant Balla, leader of the Socialist Party's MP group, at Thursday's session called <x0-terrorists” some protesters and reiterated claims about Iran.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the international anti-terrorism conference a week ago said there are some extreme movements that could threaten stability in Europe. Individuals identified by us, with clear links to Iran's Revolutionary Guard are the main orchestrators of violence in protest”, Balla said.

Protest organisers have repeatedly denied these accusations.

Meanwhile, the leader of the opposition Democratic Party, Sali Berisha, said the distribution of the Assembly is the only act MPs must take.

The opposition called on the government to discuss all protest demands in the country and to create a working group for the four laws, which protesters seek to annul.

They require abolishing the Law on Protective Areas, the Strategic Investment Law, the Mountain Package, and the Law on Cultural Heritage and Museum.

On the parliamentary session agenda is the adoption of resolutions for the work of Special Anti-Corruption Structural (SPAK) and six other independent institutions.

The Assembly will also discuss the normous act that paved the way for funding American singer Kayey West's concert with about 4m euros from the state budget reserve fund. / REL