TIRANA, June 25 /ATA/ – The ruling Socialist Party and opposition lawmakers clashed on Thursday over a request to hold a parliamentary debate on ongoing anti-government protests and a recent European Parliament report on the country.
Opposition lawmakers from the Democratic Party (DP) argued that the report raised concerns over corruption, media freedom and governance issues, and accused the government of avoiding parliamentary scrutiny.
Chairman of the DP parliamentary group, Gazment Bardhi, said the government should allow a debate on the report’s findings, while opposition lawmaker Jorida Tabaku said the concerns raised by protesters had also been reflected in discussions within European institutions.
Lawmakers from the opposition Freedom Party joined calls for an urgent debate with Prime Minister Edi Rama on the protesters’ demands.
The ruling Socialist Party rejected the request, arguing that it did not meet the procedural requirements set out in parliament’s rules and the constitution.
Socialist parliamentary group leader Taulant Balla said the opposition had used the wrong parliamentary mechanism and suggested it could instead pursue a motion of no confidence if it wished to challenge the government.
Balla also disputed the opposition’s claim to speak on behalf of the protesters and accused it of misrepresenting their demands.
The Conference of Parliamentary Group Chairpersons failed to reach agreement on the opposition’s proposal, leaving the matter to be decided in a plenary session.
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