In Tirana, the Albanian parliament was the scene of a chaotic protest on Thursday, when members of the opposition Democratic Party disrupted a vote on a central‑bank law. The MPs set up smoke machines, blocked the speaker’s podium and displayed photographs that they said showed protestors injured by police. The ruling Socialist Party, which holds the majority, continued the vote without interruption. Four opposition MPs were removed from the chamber by parliamentary guards. During the disturbance, the opposition shouted “Rama, resignation!” in a call for Prime Minister Edi Rama to step down. The protest is part of a broader series of demonstrations across Albania that have been demanding Rama’s resignation. Opposition MPs have repeatedly accused the police of excessive force against protestors. The photographs shown in the chamber were not independently verified. Similar scenes were reported on 22 October, when opposition MPs surrounded the speaker’s podium, displayed photos of students allegedly beaten by police, and threw objects at Speaker Nika Peleshija. The incident that day also involved clashes between MPs of opposing parties and the intervention of parliamentary guards. According to Yahoo, microphones were removed from tables and chairs were overturned during that earlier confrontation. The current incident underscores the heightened tensions in Tirana’s parliament as the opposition continues to challenge the government’s policies and the conduct of law enforcement.
Article source: Večernji List | Image credit: Večernji List