The European Parliament rapporteur for Albania, Knut Fleckenstein (S&D, Germany), and the chair of the Western Balkans working group of the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs, Eduard Kukan (EPP, Slovakia), called on Monday 13 May for Albanians to hold peaceful demonstrations after violent demonstrations were held against the government on 11 May. Clashes with the police have left several people injured in Tirana.
“The right to protest is crucial in any democratic society. However, this can never legitimate violence”, they stressed in an open letter to Albanians, calling on “all participants to the protests announced for upcoming days in Tirana, to refrain from all forms of violence and to stay away from such violent events”. They warned that images of violent demonstrations could give the “false impression” that Tirana was not ready for the opening of negotiations next June.
Both MEPs also urged all political leaders to show responsibility and restraint, and to not compromise the country's European prospects.
While not wishing to interfere in the demonstrations, Mr Fleckenstein and Mr Kukan noted that “only the democratic institutions and processes, parliamentary dialogue, legal procedures, free and fair elections, can legitimately resolve the serious challenges Albanian society is experiencing”. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)