Eggs, tomatoes fly as Albania opposition ups protests in wake of tax hikes
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Anti-government protesters in Albania have pelted police with tomatoes, eggs, and smoke flares during a rally near parliament.
Several thousand supporters of the conservative opposition attended the rally Thursday and challenged a police cordon as lawmakers from the center-right Democratic Party presented procedural obstacles during a municipal budget debate.
The opposition has launched a protest campaign against Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama's government, accusing it of corruption and ineffective leadership.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Protests are being organized amid an unpopular government crackdown on nonpayment of household electricity bills, as well as recent hikes in income taxes and social security contributions.