TIRANA, October 22 /ATSH/ –The plenary session opened in a climate of tension as opposition lawmakers occupied the Parliamentary rostrum.
Democratic Party MP Flamur Noka, accompanied by several other opposition colleagues, took to the rostrum to demand a political solution to the crisis that they claim has gripped the country.
The blockade occurred while the Speaker of the Parliament Niko Peleshi was presenting the agenda and reading the minutes of the previous session. At that moment, MPs from the Democratic Party’s parliamentary group—including Flamur Noka, Enno Bozdo, Belind Këlliçi, Ina Zhupa, Gjin Gjoni, Ivi Kaso and Bujar Leskaj—occupied the space around the rostrum.
During his remarks in the Parliament, Këlliçi stated that Albania is currently in the tenth day of what he described as the most powerful student movement seen in the last 35 years.
According to him, the Democratic Party will stand unequivocally by the side of the students, the youth, and every citizen who is demanding their rights. “We condemn the violence against students and any citizen who takes part in a protest. At this moment, our political and civic duty is to stand with the protesters and support their demands—the demands of a generation treated with contempt by those in power. There can be no Parliamentary normalcy in the face of such a social crisis. The message is clear: the students are in the streets and the DP [Democratic Party] MPs are by their side,” stated Këlliçi.
He further added that the DP parliamentary group, along with other opposition groups, supports the students’ demand for the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama and the dissolution of this Parliament.
“Today, the message is clear: a political solution is required. Albania is not the property of any single individual or regime; it belongs to its citizens,” Këlliçi concluded.
Tensions escalated further when Taulant Balla, head of the Socialist Party’s parliamentary group, took the floor.
“No statement justifies violence,” Balla said, but opposition MPs interrupted him, preventing him from speaking.
This led to heated clashes among the lawmakers, prompting the Speaker of the Assembly Niko Peleshi to call for a five-minute break in the plenary session. /m.q/a.f/p.s./
