Albanian opposition step up demand for snap elections by giving up seats

Albanian opposition lawmakers said at a rally on Thursday they would give up their seats in parliament and push for snap elections, despite calls by the European Union and the United States to avoid delaying key reforms.

The peaceful rally culminated in a march led by the head of the opposition Democratic Party, Lulzim Basha, to hand over signed statements by the lawmakers renouncing their mandates. Parliament's session on Thursday had been cancelled for fear the crowd would force its way into the building. On Saturday, protesters vandalised the exterior of Prime Minister Edi Rama's office in a four-hour rampage.

European and U.S. officials urged the opposition and government on Thursday to avoid violence and exercise restraint. "These decisions and acts ... undermine the progress the country has made on the European Union path," said Federica Mogherini, the EU's foreign policy chief, and its enlargement commissioner, Johannes Hahn. "We seek for Albania the standards you cherish in your countries," Basha retorted at the rally. "We will not accept a premier caught stealing the will of the people."

The Democrats claim a now-cancelled road tender is an evidence the ruling Socialists are corrupt and have "stolen votes in cahoots with criminals" to gain power. Rama rejects their claims, saying the Democrats want only to halt reforms meant to flush out crooked judges and start fighting corruption, a key condition for Albania to join the European Union. Albania hopes to start accession talks in June. Technically, parliament can still function since the Socialists have a majority.