The opposition protest has started with tensions. In the area of the Palace of Arrows in Tirana, there was a clash between protesters and a citizen who tried to enter by car.
One of the protesters and the driver of the vehicle began using vulgar words against each other, but it was one of the protesters who approached the driver of the vehicle and convinced him not to get into a conflict.
Another clash occurred at the Palace of Arrows overpass, where a mother accompanying her sick child was stopped by a crowd of protesters. She insisted on opening the road, emphasizing the urgency of getting to the hospital.
"I am not aware of this at all. Please, open the road, I have the child for the hospital. I told the policeman to open the road. Yes, I have the child for the hospital, please ," the woman said repeatedly.
Tensions also arose between the leader of the DP parliamentary group, Gazment Bardhi, and police leaders on the ground. Bardhi accused the police of having to take measures to redirect traffic, while emphasizing that protest is a constitutional right.
"You have nothing to do with citizens, your duty is to regulate traffic. No permit is required, there is a decision of the Constitutional Court that says that in the case of freedom of assembly, no permit is obtained from the police, only the police are notified. You are hindering the movement of citizens by not taking measures to divert traffic. I am talking about the law and the constitution. Divert traffic, if you want help, we will help you. We do not intend to hinder the movement of citizens, you have the obligation to regulate traffic by ensuring a peaceful assembly. We do not intend to commit acts of violence, as you know, in every assembly there are roadblocks, that is why the police are there", said Bardhi.
The gathering of DP militants at 5 key points in the capital has caused chaos in traffic, which was already busy today due to bad weather with intense rainfall.
The blocked axes are: "Unaza e Vogël", "Roundabout at Zogu i Zi", the bridge near the mosque on Elbasani Street, "Willson" Square and the road from "Pallati me Shigjeta" towards "Rruga e Kavajës".
Meanwhile, over 1,400 police officers are on the ground to ensure the smooth conduct of the opposition protest that began at 5:00 PM.