Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama proposed new protest fines and state aid for damaged businesses as student demonstrations continued in Tirana, reshaping who would bear the cost of damage at future gatherings.
Rama’s presentation sets fines of 10,000 to 100,000 Albanian lek for joining an unauthorized gathering or refusing a police order to leave. A separate measure would allow penalties of up to 500,000 lek for knowingly staying after police warnings while violence or property damage is underway. Journalists, medical personnel, observers, officials on duty and passersby would be exempt from that provision. The package also lists concealing one’s identity as an offense punishable by up to 500,000 lek, while blocking traffic would draw a 5,000 lek fine.
Police could restrict gatherings for up to 72 hours near schools, hospitals, government buildings, religious sites and cultural heritage locations if authorities see an imminent risk of violence. Rama cited the French model and said 27 European countries have comparable measures addressing concealed identities.
Rama said Albania’s public-gatherings law dates from 2001 and does not account for digital tools people now use to organize protests. Under his proposal, police would send account holders notices to remove posts calling for violence in connection with a gathering; ignored notices or repeated violations could lead to legal proceedings.
The package would also provide state compensation for small businesses with annual turnover of up to €140,000, covering 70% to 100% of recent material losses. A separate proposal would make people liable for property damage at public gatherings when their own conduct caused it. Rama said that measure would shift future repair costs away from taxpayers and the state budget.
Anadolu Agency reported that student demonstrations in Tirana reached their 13th day on Sunday. The agency said protests began Oct. 13 amid student demands for better education conditions, and that some demonstrations turned violent. Students have also raised education costs and corruption and called for Rama to resign, Anadolu reported. The agency said students rejected Rama’s renewed calls for dialogue and planned to continue protesting. EconoTimes previously covered student protests over education costs and corruption.
AFP reported that Rama said a new law would be released this week.
