As anti-government protests continue to escalate across Europe, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has announced plans to introduce law imposing fines of over $550 on participants in violent demonstrations. The move comes as months of unrest in the capital, Tirana, intensify, with demonstrators demanding his resignation amid allegations of corruption and inadequate support for students.

Rama said on Sunday that the proposed legislation, expected to be passed within the week would penalize individuals who remain in crowds engaged in violence or looting, as well as those who conceal their identities during protests. The law would also grant police the authority to restrict public gatherings when there is a credible risk of violence, further tightening control over public assembly.

The announcement follows a series of increasingly confrontational clashes between protesters and security forces in recent days. Demonstrators have targeted government buildings, accusing Rama’s administration of systemic corruption and failing to address pressing issues such as educational funding and social welfare. The protests, which began peacefully but have turned violent in some instances, mirror a broader wave of civil discontent sweeping through several European nations, where citizens are voicing frustration over economic inequality, political corruption, and government failure to address the domestic issues.

In a speech , Rama argued that the new measures were necessary to protect public order and the safety of law-abiding citizens. “Those who use protests as a cover for vandalism and violence will face serious consequences,” he said. Critics, however, have condemned the law as a curb on democratic freedoms, warning that it could be used to suppress legitimate dissent. Opposition leaders and human rights groups have vowed to challenge the legislation, accusing Rama of exploiting the unrest to consolidate power.