The measure applies to Flamur Noka, Belind Këlliçi, Edi Paloka, Fidel Kreka, Luçiano Boçi and Besart Xhaferri.

Fourteen other DP lawmakers – Gjin Gjoni, Bardh Spahia, Albana Vokshi, Elda Hoti, Xhelal Mziu, Gent Strazimiri, Enno Bozdo, Kastriot Piroli, Kliti Hoti, Flamur Hoxha, Arjan Ndoja, Ivi Kaso, Zija Ismaili and Blendi Himçi – were not suspended but received formal warnings.

The Socialist Party’s request followed incidents in parliament a day earlier, when DP lawmakers blocked the parliamentary rostrum, used offensive language and threw objects towards members of the governing majority.

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Following a brief interruption, the session resumed with remarks from the head of the Socialist Party Parliamentary Group Taulant Balla. He requested that the Parliament proceed to a vote on the bills on the agenda—a move that further escalated tensions, as opposition MPs removed his microphone.

Speaker of the Parliament Niko Peleshi put Balla’s proposal to a vote and it was approved by a majority.

Due to a technical malfunction in the electronic voting system, the bills on the agenda were voted on using physical voting cards, while opposition MPs created chaos and attempted to seize the voting cards from the Socialist MPs.

However, the Parliament approved with 76 votes in favor the draft law “On the ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer, signed in Luxembourg on May 13, 2025.”

The Assembly approved, with 76 votes, the draft law “On the ratification of the agreement between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia regarding the establishment of joint border crossing points between the Republic of Albania and the Republic of North Macedonia, and the conduct of joint border control activities.”

The Assembly approved, with 76 votes in favor, the draft law “On certain amendments and additions to Law No. 55/2020, ‘On Payment Services.’”

The Assembly approved, with 76 votes in favor, the draft law “On the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing.”

The Assembly approved, with 76 votes in favor, the draft law “On certain additions and amendments to Law No. 35/2016, ‘On Copyright and Related Rights,’ as amended.”

The Assembly approved, with 76 votes in favor, the draft law “On geographical indications for artisanal and industrial products.”

The Assembly approved, with 76 votes, the draft decision, “On the establishment of a Special Parliamentary Commission for the second phase of the Administrative-Territorial Reform in the Republic of Albania.”/k.s/a.f/p.s./

To maintain public order, authorities established a strict security perimeter to hold back demonstrators, who have now been joined by the Union of University Employees of Albania and local citizens.

The capital remains tense after several days of escalating unrest, which has seen public institutions and private businesses set on fire, alongside widespread vandalism to city infrastructure. /p.s./

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./

While passing by the Ministry of Economy, they kicked and broke one of the ministry’s doors.

Some of the protesters damaged security cameras located on Elbasan Street. Meanwhile, the police used tear gas against protesters gathered in front of the Parliament, who were throwing stones.

The protesters also threw stones at the building of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy. Besides, some young people sat down in the street, blocking traffic near this ministry.

A group of the protesters completely blocked Elbasan Street, preventing vehicles from passing—with the exception of an ambulance.

For a third straight day, student protest boycotts have disrupted Tirana, blocking major capital roads. A large police force has been deployed to maintain order and safeguard property. /k.s/p.s./

In a press statement, the DP Parliamentary group noted that for the past 48 hours, Albania has been witnessing its most powerful student movement in the last 35 years.

“This isn’t just a protest—it’s a generational revolt against the corruption, arrogance, and state capture of the Rama administration. We are fighting to reclaim our hope, restore public trust and protect Albania’s European future,” the statement reads.

The DP parliamentary group stands unequivocally with the students, youth, and citizens fighting for dignity, justice, and a better Albania. We fully endorse the political demands for change, backing calls for the immediate resignation of the Rama government. We demand the formation of a caretaker government tasked solely with ensuring free, fair, and early elections.

The DP calls for the self-dissolution of the current Parliament, which, according to the party, can no longer claim to genuinely represent the will of the citizens amidst the crisis of confidence and the demand for change.

“Albania cannot be held hostage by an administration that views every protest as a threat and every demand for accountability as an attack on itself. Students do not need lectures on arrogance, nor do they need yet another round of promises. They deserve answers, accountability, and real change. Today, the responsibility is clear: the voice of the citizens must be heard and the way must be paved for a political solution that restores democratic legitimacy to the country,” reads the statement by the DP parliamentary group. /j.p/p.s./

The head of government appreciated the vote as another boost for modernization of Albania.

“Despite intense internal debates, external speculation and a challenging political climate shaped by both seen and unseen interference, last night’s Parliamentary vote has given Albania another modernizing boost,” Rama wrote.

Rama added that, “Furthermore, it demonstrated once again to all observers that one should never underestimate the resilience or reckon without the host when dealing with the Socialist Party.”/m.q/ /a.g/p.s./

Speaking in parliament, Berisha described the reform as a “hostile act” against citizens and said investment had fallen sharply in areas where municipalities or communes had been abolished.

He cited Libohova, Memaliaj, Kelcyre, Dimal, Polican, Rrogozhine, Klos and Fushe-Arrez among the municipalities set to lose their status, arguing that the areas had significant economic, tourism, mining and agricultural potential.

“You are wiping out municipalities with a shameful vote,” Berisha said, arguing that local government units were important drivers of investment and development.

He said investment in areas affected by the territorial changes had fallen to “almost zero”, a claim he did not substantiate.

Berisha also accused the government of retaliating against communities that had not supported it politically, citing the northern Albania municipality of Fushe-Arrez as an example.

“This is retaliation,” he said.

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He accused the Parliamentary majority of being willing to violate the Constitution to pass a harmful reform that eliminates 15 functional municipalities. He stated that the public is watching parliament commit this major injustice against hundreds of thousands of citizens. He added that they even summoned Balluku to vote alongside them because there is no difference in their agendas.

Further on, DP Chairman Sali Berisha called the parliamentary majority’s refusal to debate the State Intelligence Service (SHISH) an unconstitutional act. He argued that rejecting transparency makes Socialist MPs accomplices in a constitutional violation. Berisha accused the majority of hiding criminal activity within SHISH to protect personal and political interests over national security, describing them as “hostages” to a corrupt system. /m.q/r.e/a.f/p.s./

The protest was called by the Democratic Party in opposition and its allies, as well as by other groups of protesters who have been demonstrating outside the Prime Minister’s Office for days.

To maintain public order, police established a security perimeter around Parliament, blocking protesters from approaching the building. A water cannon truck was also stationed nearby, ready to deploy if the situation would escalate.

Tensions spiked during the protest when demonstrators blocked the Elbasani Street intersection near the Namazgah Mosque, triggering clashes with police who ordered the roadway cleared.

Tensions escalated on “Joan of Arc” boulevard as protesters attempted to pull down a metal police barrier. Officers responded with tear gas, while the crowd retaliated by throwing eggs and smoke bombs. Nearby, demonstrators set fire to trash bins near the Parliament building. Democratic Party MPs Bardh Spahia, Klevis Balliu, and Saimir Korreshi were also in attendance, joining the demonstration.

The affected mayors by the administrative-territorial reform also joined the protest outside Parliament during the legislative session.

Hilë Curri, the mayor of Fushë-Arrëz, criticized the restructuring, stating that it impacts 300,000 residents across 15 municipalities. He described the map as a clientelist design that ignored EU expert recommendations. Furthermore, he questioned why municipalities like Konispol and Delvina were excluded and placed political responsibility on Arbjan Mazniku. He argued that the map fails European standards, distances services from citizens, and erases local identities.

Albert Malaj, the mayor of Memaliaj, urged Members of Parliament to reject the measure. He noted that residents had been protesting for two months and called on all MPs to vote against a reform he claims violates both the Albanian Constitution and the European Charter of Local Self-Government. Malaj also had a brief confrontation with police officers near the Namazgah Mosque.

Fisnik Qosja, the mayor of Kavaja, joined the demonstration as Parliament debated the territorial changes.

The Socialist Party’s draft law envisages reducing the number of municipalities in the country from 61 to 46 by merging 15 municipalities.

The municipalities slated for merger are Fushë-Arrëz, Klos, Rrogozhina, Dimal, Poliçan, Patos, Divjaka, Selenica, Maliq, Këlcyra, Memaliaj, Libohova, Cërrik, Belsh, and Përrenjas. /r.e/p.s./