Speaking at a press conference at the party’s headquarters, Berisha called on Democratic Party supporters and citizens across Albania to join the rally, scheduled to begin at noon 12:00.

He said the student protests had become a source of hope for Albanians and had attracted widespread support both at home and abroad.

“I am calling on Democrats and all citizens across Albania to take part in Saturday’s protest at 12:00, in support of the student uprising, in what I believe will be the strongest protest the country has ever seen,” Berisha said.

“The student and high school protests in Tirana have become a great source of hope for all Albanians. Saturday is an opportunity for every Albanian to stand alongside them, alongside the sons and daughters of this country, who are showing the courage to do what every citizen should do. The students and high school pupils have won extraordinary national and international support,” he added.

The Democratic Party leader also urged citizens of all political persuasions to join the demonstration, saying that Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation was the common objective of the movement.

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Speaking to reporters, Celibashi said the commission was working to adapt all electoral preparations to the changes in the country’s administrative and territorial boundaries.

“The new territorial division law is currently in force, and we have no reason to anticipate what legal actions or initiatives interested parties may take in relation to it. There is no legal basis for us to discuss this issue. Since yesterday, we have been working to ensure that all measures related to preparations for the upcoming elections are adapted to the new administrative-territorial map of the Republic of Albania,” he said.

Celibashi was also asked about expanding electronic vote counting to more municipalities in the upcoming local elections.

He said the CEC supported extending the system to as many municipalities as possible, but stressed that the opposition Democratic Party’s objections could not be disregarded.

Although the commission considers the Democratic Party’s concerns about the security of the electronic system unfounded, Celibashi said political parties needed to reach an agreement on the issue.

“Our institutional position on electronic voting and counting remains unchanged. We have always supported expanding this system as widely as possible in the upcoming elections. However, the Democratic Party is the main opposition party, and we cannot ignore its position on the matter, even though the grounds for its opposition are entirely unfounded,” he said.

“Political parties are free to maintain their positions on this issue. The CEC is not a party to this debate. The governing majority should engage in dialogue with the Democratic Party and other political parties to seek an agreement,” he added.

Celibashi warned that reaching a decision without broad political agreement would be difficult, if not impossible, for the commission, as it could be perceived as serving the interests of one side at the expense of the other.

He reiterated his call for political parties to work together to reach consensus, stressing that the CEC did not wish to become involved in the political dispute.

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Democratic Party MPs left the party headquarters and marched toward the main boulevard, heading for the Prime Minister’s Office to show their support for the students.

DP leader Sali Berisha stated that the Democratic Party would offer its full support to the students.

It is reported that DP MPs engaged in a dispute with the police on the boulevard, as they claimed that citizens were being prevented from joining the protest.

MP Belind Këlliçi told the media that these actions are signs of panic, referring to what he described as the obstruction of university lecturers on the boulevard.

In a statement to the media, DP MP Flamur Noka said: “Today, there is only one message: Edi Rama, step down—you cannot hold onto power through force. All Albanians share this single message, and today, as Democrats, we convey it here—along with the students who are out there.

There is only one message: Edi Rama, step down; you cannot hold onto power through force.”

“The students’ demands must be respected and their voices must be heard. The Democratic Party has supported, continues to support, and will keep supporting the students’ demands and the students themselves in their protest. We gathered here to begin the protest; now, the protest will continue alongside the students at the square where they began their battle,” Noka stated.

Later on, the DP supporters and MPs marched toward the Ministry of Education to join the students.

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Democratic Party MP Flamur Noka, accompanied by several other opposition colleagues, took to the rostrum to demand a political solution to the crisis that they claim has gripped the country.

The blockade occurred while the Speaker of the Parliament Niko Peleshi was presenting the agenda and reading the minutes of the previous session. At that moment, MPs from the Democratic Party’s parliamentary group—including Flamur Noka, Enno Bozdo, Belind Këlliçi, Ina Zhupa, Gjin Gjoni, Ivi Kaso and Bujar Leskaj—occupied the space around the rostrum.

During his remarks in the Parliament, Këlliçi stated that Albania is currently in the tenth day of what he described as the most powerful student movement seen in the last 35 years.

According to him, the Democratic Party will stand unequivocally by the side of the students, the youth, and every citizen who is demanding their rights. “We condemn the violence against students and any citizen who takes part in a protest. At this moment, our political and civic duty is to stand with the protesters and support their demands—the demands of a generation treated with contempt by those in power. There can be no Parliamentary normalcy in the face of such a social crisis. The message is clear: the students are in the streets and the DP [Democratic Party] MPs are by their side,” stated Këlliçi.

He further added that the DP parliamentary group, along with other opposition groups, supports the students’ demand for the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama and the dissolution of this Parliament.

“Today, the message is clear: a political solution is required. Albania is not the property of any single individual or regime; it belongs to its citizens,” Këlliçi concluded.

Tensions escalated further when Taulant Balla, head of the Socialist Party’s parliamentary group, took the floor.

“No statement justifies violence,” Balla said, but opposition MPs interrupted him, preventing him from speaking.

This led to heated clashes among the lawmakers, prompting the Speaker of the Assembly Niko Peleshi to call for a five-minute break in the plenary session. /m.q/a.f/p.s./

In a press statement, the DP Parliamentary group noted that for the past 48 hours, Albania has been witnessing its most powerful student movement in the last 35 years.

“This isn’t just a protest—it’s a generational revolt against the corruption, arrogance, and state capture of the Rama administration. We are fighting to reclaim our hope, restore public trust and protect Albania’s European future,” the statement reads.

The DP parliamentary group stands unequivocally with the students, youth, and citizens fighting for dignity, justice, and a better Albania. We fully endorse the political demands for change, backing calls for the immediate resignation of the Rama government. We demand the formation of a caretaker government tasked solely with ensuring free, fair, and early elections.

The DP calls for the self-dissolution of the current Parliament, which, according to the party, can no longer claim to genuinely represent the will of the citizens amidst the crisis of confidence and the demand for change.

“Albania cannot be held hostage by an administration that views every protest as a threat and every demand for accountability as an attack on itself. Students do not need lectures on arrogance, nor do they need yet another round of promises. They deserve answers, accountability, and real change. Today, the responsibility is clear: the voice of the citizens must be heard and the way must be paved for a political solution that restores democratic legitimacy to the country,” reads the statement by the DP parliamentary group. /j.p/p.s./

Eno Bozdo, a DP lawmaker and deputy head of parliament’s Economy, Employment and Finance Committee, said diesel was selling at around 229 leks per litre, a level he described as unaffordable for both households and the productive sector.

The price made Albania the country with the most expensive diesel in the region, at around 30% above the regional average, Bozdo said in a statement to the media.

He also said Albanian diesel prices were above the European Union average and placed Albania among Europe’s five most expensive markets for diesel, alongside Monaco, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark.

Comparing Albania with neighbouring countries, Bozdo said the main reason for the high fuel prices was the heavy tax burden on fuel.

“Albanians pay roughly twice as much in taxes as the region, without receiving what they deserve in return,” Bozdo said, adding that taxes accounted for around 53% of the final diesel price, including the fixed excise duty, road tax, carbon tax and 20% value-added tax applied to the total price.

Bozdo said that, unlike other countries in the region, Albania had failed to introduce measures to ease the impact of higher fuel prices.

The DP is urging the government to reduce the tax burden on fuel immediately, he said, reiterating the party’s proposal to abolish the road tax and temporarily cut the excise duty.

Bozdo said the combination of the two measures would bring the price of diesel in Albania closer to the regional average.

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Representatives of the association raised concerns over how the reform process was being conducted and said any changes to the territorial map should be based on broad consultation, clear evidence and consensus, the PD said.

Association President Fisnik Qosja said the position was institutional rather than political. “We are defending the interests of citizens, not politics,” he said, adding that full consultation would give the reform greater legitimacy, credibility and durability.

Association Vice-President Albert Malaj cited three main concerns: the parliamentary process being concluded without all planned stages being completed, a lack of concrete consultation on a proposal to merge 15 municipalities, and insufficient consensus at the local level.

Malaj said the association was not asking international partners to support a particular territorial map, but to help ensure the process complied with European standards on consultation, participation and local democracy.

The association asked the Council of Europe’s Congress to review the relevant documentation, consultations and positions of municipalities and communities and assess whether the process complied with European standards on local autonomy, the PD said.

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In a statement to the media, Kedhi commented on yesterday’s meeting in Kuç between Prime Minister Edi Rama and local elected officials regarding the new territorial map.

Kedhi recalled that the Constitution of Albania stipulates that the borders of local government units cannot be changed without first consulting the opinion of the population residing in them.

“The European Charter of Local Self-Government requires prior consultation of communities on changing borders and consultation of local authorities, in due time, on issues that directly affect them”, he added.

According to him, “The Democratic Party has a completely different approach on the local government”.

“We want power and money in local hands, not controlled by one person. We support small towns and local services, not giant distant offices. Communities must choose for themselves and keep their unique way of life. Citizens across Albania share these values, and that is why they are protesting today”, he said. /m.m/j.p/r.e/p.s./

Nufi said that the agreement is evidence of the partnership between Albania and the United States of America.

“The agreement with the US does not violate the Constitution. The Democratic Party’s stance is unacceptable. National security cannot be a matter of political debate,” said Nufi.

The minister also said that the FMF (Foreign Military Financing) program is not only a financing matter, but also a process related to technological transfer, which requires political will.

“There are countries that want to acquire certain technologies, which, if not approved by the US Congress, they cannot receive them, even if they have the financial means to purchase them,” he said.

According to Nufi, defense agreements are not only related to funds, but also to credibility as an ally.

“When it comes to defense agreements, to the acquisition of military equipment and means, as well as military technology, it is not just a matter of money. It is also a matter of political will, credibility as an ally and the security that a country guarantees to its partners,” the minister said.

“Our relationship with the United States today shows that Albania is a reliable, stable ally and a country that stands by the alliance in terms of politics, strategy and the values ​​that we share,” Nufi underlined.

Responding to questions about the interest on the loan, the minister said that this matter is up to the Ministry of Finance and that the details are confidential due to the nature of the agreement.

Nufi stressed that transparency is important, but some elements of national security cannot be published. According to the minister, persons who have a legitimate interest in obtaining information can do so by meeting the relevant security and confidentiality requirements. /a.f/p.s./

After leaving SPAK, Berisha spoke to reporters reiterating his accusations against heads of the justice institutions.

“Justice may be delayed, but it is never denied”, said Berisha, while pointing at the former head of SPAK Altin Dumani, calling him “the lawyer of the Albanian narco-state”.

He also pointed at the Constitutional Court’s decision-making regarding the law on strategic investments, the protection of cultural heritage and protected areas, reminding that these matters have been opposed by the opposition.

“The DP parliamentary group has opposed in the Parliament and sent to the Constitutional Court the strategic investment law. The Constitutional Court maintained the law, ignoring strong pushback from the European Commission and the European Union”, said Berisha.

The Special Court of the First Instance against Corruption and Organized Crime has passed the file of the former “Partizani” sports complex for trial. The former prime minister Sali Berisha is accused of the criminal offense of “Passive corruption of high state officials”. /gj.m/j.p/p.s./