TIRANA, Dec 23 /ATA/ – Albania’s parliamentary body overseeing procedures and ethics on Tuesday voted to suspend six lawmakers from the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) for 30 working days, following disruptions during a recent plenary session.
The Secretariat for Procedures, Voting and Ethics met to review a request from the ruling Socialist Party’s parliamentary group, which had sought disciplinary measures against 29 opposition MPs over incidents during the December 18 session.
After deliberations, the body decided to suspend opposition lawmakers Belind Këlliçi, Albana Vokshi, Klevis Balliu, Elda Hoti, Flamur Noka and Fidel Kreka.
Secretariat chairman Ulsi Manja told reporters that the six MPs were sanctioned for “violent actions” during the plenary session, including damaging parliamentary equipment, lighting flares and throwing prohibited objects toward the speaker’s chair. He said the suspensions were reduced to 30 working days from the 60 originally requested.
Manja added that the remaining lawmakers named in the request would face a lesser disciplinary measure in the form of a formal warning.
DP lawmaker Flamur Noka rejected the decision, saying the opposition was carrying out what he described as a legitimate mission against what he called a “narco-state.”
During Tuesday’s meeting, DP lawmakers staged a protest inside parliament, holding placards in opposition to the disciplinary measures.
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