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Rising fuel and food costs spark protests in Albania, government imposes price controls

Europe Materials 13 March 2022 03:22 (UTC +04:00)
Rising fuel and food costs spark protests in Albania, government imposes price controls

Thousands of people demonstrated in Tirana on Saturday against rising fuel prices, which have gone up more than 40% domestically in one week, Trend reports citing Euronews.

This is the fourth day of massive protests that have affected several cities in this Western Balkan country, where the average monthly salary is reported to be around 490 euros.

Already low, the purchasing power of Albanians is likely to be battered by price increases due to the destabilization of markets by the sanctions against Russia.

Gathered in the central Skanderbeg Square in downtown Tirana, the crowds marched to the seat of government, holding up placards and chanting slogans against the cabinet of Prime Minister Edi Rama.

A small group of demonstrators marched to the police station to seek the release of dozens of people who had been arrested in previous protests.

The demonstrators are calling for lower taxes and aid programmes to cushion the blow to low-income households.

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