TIRANA, Oct. 27 /ATA/ – Main opposition Democratic Party will organise a nationwide protest on Saturday in support of university and high school students in Albania, party leader Sali Berisha said on Tuesday, urging citizens to join the youth-led movement.
Asked at a news conference whether the opposition would support the protest announced by young people, Berisha said the party would offer its full backing.
“Fully and forcefully. The Democratic Party is calling a nationwide protest in support of the students,” he said, adding that the party was committed to supporting and defending their cause.
Berisha urged Tirana residents to join what he described as a revolt of exceptional importance for the country’s future, saying Albanians from the diaspora were also expected to attend.
He condemned what he called violence and pressure against people taking part in peaceful protests, accusing police of violating the law and the Constitution.
“I strongly condemn the terror and unconstitutional violence that police stations are inflicting on citizens in cities and elsewhere, in violation of all laws, because of their participation in peaceful protests,” he said.
Berisha also said the students’ cause had received international support, thanking U.S. lawmakers, members of the European Parliament, German Bundestag representatives and international organisations that had spoken out on the issue.
He named U.S. Representatives Joe Wilson, Robert Aderholt and Keith Self, as well as Senators Chris Murphy and Elissa Slotkin, praising their statements in support of the students and their demands.
On Democratic Party lawmakers’ participation in parliamentary committee meetings, Berisha said the decision to attend and then leave after making statements had been taken by the parliamentary group to condemn violence against students and express support for their protest.
Asked about the opposition’s position during discussions on the fiscal package and the 2027 state budget, he said further decisions would be announced later.
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