TIRANA, Nov 7 /ATA/ – Democratic Party (DP) leader Sali Berisha said on Friday that the opposition would launch a “parliamentary platform” outside the Prime Minister’s Office, where opposition lawmakers and citizens will deliver speeches and share their views.
Referring to tensions in parliament, Berisha accused the ruling majority of “going to extremes” by preventing the opposition from speaking, saying this amounted to the “de facto destruction of parliamentarism.”
“In parliament, out of nine sessions held, despite the opposition’s full engagement in every committee and every sitting, we have been allowed to speak only once. This means, de facto, the annihilation of parliament and parliamentary democracy, a violation of the Constitution and the parliament’s rules, and the denial of opposition rights,” Berisha said.
He added that cabinet members and the Prime Minister no longer attend interpellations with MPs.
“Under these circumstances, I will propose that the opposition open a parliamentary platform in front of the Council of Ministers building, where opposition lawmakers and citizens can present their speeches, ideas, proposals, and denunciations,” he said.
“We are now moving the debate to the citizens,” Berisha stated, describing the move as a necessary step in response to the repression of the opposition and pluralism in parliament.
DP leader also announced that the opposition would soon hold a nationwide protest, but he ruled out parliamentary boycott.
“Nationwide protests are long overdue,” Berisha said. “We will soon announce the first national protest and others to follow, inviting all citizens ready to fight for free elections against a regime that has confiscated and stolen the vote, using all state, financial, logistical, and media resources to buy and manipulate it.”
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