Members of Albania’s opposition Democratic Party created mayhem in parliament on Monday, attempting to disrupt the vote on the 2024 budget. Smoke bombs were set off, a small fire briefly ignited, and chairs were piled in the center of the chamber, all swiftly countered by security measures. The spectacle unfolded as Prime Minister Edi Rama’s seat was guarded against protesters.
Sali Berisha, the de-facto leader of the Democratic Party and a former prime minister, accused the government of stifling opposition voices in the majority-held parliament. Following the disturbance, Berisha emphasized, “The battle has no way back,” expressing the party’s commitment to introducing pluralism to parliament. The budget, subject to the disrupted vote, passed in a session lasting less than five minutes.
Berisha, currently facing corruption charges related to a land deal, contends that the government, led by Rama’s Socialist Party, aims to silence him. Although his son-in-law was arrested, Berisha, as an MP, enjoys immunity from prosecution but has been ordered not to leave the country. He accuses Rama of orchestrating the charges against him, a claim denied by the prime minister.
Rama, responding to the chaotic events, criticized the opposition, stating, “They brought the vocabulary and manners of the street into politics.” The clash underscores the escalating tensions within Albanian politics as opposing forces clash over critical legislative matters.
