The probe into corruption at the heart of Albania's government

FILE PHOTO: Supporters of the Albanian opposition hold lights aloft during an anti-government protest, triggered by a corruption investigation into Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, near the Prime Minister's office in Tirana, Albania, January 24, 2026. REUTERS/Florion Goga/File Photo

TIRANA, Feb 19 (Reuters) - As protesters hurled ⁠petrol bombs at Albania's government building in central Tirana last week, and police responded with tear gas and water cannon, one chant rang out: "Rama go home! ⁠This corrupt government should resign!"

Tensions had grown since the special prosecution office, known as SPAK, indicted Prime Minister Edi Rama's deputy, Belinda Balluku, in December ‌on suspicion of interfering in the awarding of two construction contracts in 2021 worth more than 200 million euros.