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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Six opposition MPs face proposed 60-day suspensions, while 14 others could be barred from parliamentary proceedings for 10 days.

The requests relate to incidents in which the main opposition DP lawmakers blocked the rostrum and clashed with members of the ruling majority.

Democratic Party parliamentary group chairman Gazment Bardhi condemned the move as a “serious act of political aggression” and an attempt to silence the opposition.

“The suspension of 20 Democratic Party MPs from Parliament is a serious act of political aggression and an overt attempt to target the opposition and silence the voices of the citizens it represents,” Bardhi said in a public statement.

He said the move would not deter the opposition, arguing that democracy depended on respect for political pluralism and voters’ will.

Parliament’s Ethics Secretariat is expected to review the requests and issue a decision on Friday at 10:00 a.m.

Bardhi and fellow Democratic Party lawmaker Klevis Balliu were previously handed 60-day suspensions in a decision taken on Oct. 12.

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Balluku had argued that the measure should be lifted because it had effectively lost its purpose after she was relieved of those posts at the end of February.

Judge Erion Çela ruled to dismiss the request filed by Balluku.

Under Albanian law, she has five days to appeal the decision at the Special Appeal Court.

The ruling comes a day after the Parliament of Albania voted with 82 votes against authorizing the request by SPAK – the Special Anti-Corruption and Organized Crime Prosecution Structure – to lift Balluku’s parliamentary immunity.

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The ruling by the appeals chamber of the Special Court of Appeal for Corruption and Organized Crime upheld a Nov. 22, 2025 decision by the Special Court for Corruption and Organized Crime to impose the precautionary measure.

The decision was issued by a single-judge panel following Balluku’s appeal against the earlier ruling.

In addition to the suspension from office, the court has also imposed a travel ban on Balluku.

Balluku has been charged by the Special Anti-Corruption and Anti-Crime Prosecution Structure (SPAK) over procedures related to the construction of the Llogara Tunnel and is also under investigation over seven segments of the Tirana Outer Ring Road project. Prosecutors accuse the former minister of the criminal offence of violating equality in public tenders.

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The hearing, scheduled for 10:00 a.m., will be attended by representatives of the Special Prosecution Office, the government and the President.

The Special Court against Corruption and Organized Crime said it would not participate in the proceedings, arguing it cannot be recognized as a party in a constitutional case filed by the Prime Minister.

“In a democratic state governed by the rule of law and the separation of powers, a court cannot be summoned or legitimized as a party in constitutional proceedings to defend a decision it has issued,” GJKKO said in a statement, adding that such participation would undermine judicial independence.

Balluku has returned to office under an interim ruling by the Constitutional Court, pending a full review of the Prime Minister’s appeal. However, a travel ban imposed by GJKKO remains in place.

The government is seeking to overturn the decision to suspend Balluku and to resolve a dispute over institutional powers between the prime minister and the Council of Ministers on one side and GJKKO on the other over the suspension of a cabinet member.

Separately, Parliament’s Committee on Rules, Mandates and Immunity is due to meet on Jan. 28 to continue reviewing a request by the Special Prosecution Office for authorization to replace Balluku’s current preventive measure with arrest or detention.

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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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The request, submitted to the Secretariat for Procedures, Voting and Ethics, calls for suspending several opposition Democratic Party lawmakers from committee work and plenary sessions.

SP parliamentary group spokesperson Erjona Ismaili said the session was marked by acts of violence, including the throwing of pyrotechnics and hard objects at the Speaker of Parliament and members of the Council of Ministers.

She said the incidents were “organised and premeditated” by leaders of the Democratic Party (PD) parliamentary group, naming MPs Gazment Bardhi, Belind Këlliçi, Tomorr Alizoti, Elda Hoti and Ledina Alolli, as well as DP figures Sali Berisha and Flamur Noka.

According to Ismaili, some MPs assaulted members of the Republican Guard, blocked the parliamentary rostrum and prevented ministers from speaking. She said video footage showed several MPs bringing and using pyrotechnic devices inside the chamber.

The Socialists are seeking 60-day suspensions for MPs accused of using pyrotechnics or damaging equipment, 30-day suspensions for Sali Berisha, Elda Hoti and Gazment Bardhi, and 10-day suspensions for a further group of opposition MPs, bringing the total to 29 lawmakers.

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The decision was approved on Thursday in accordance with the law on the international agreements and treaties in the Republic of Albania, proposed by the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs.

The government approved revocation of the decision “On the partial suspension of the agreement between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the government of the Republic of Belarus, on the reciprocal abolition of visa requirements.”

The decision enters into force immediately.

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Three main opposition Democratic Party lawmakers, namely Gazment Bardhi, Flamur Noka and Bledion Nallbati were received a 60-day ban, while 20 other MPs will be suspended for 40 days.

The Secretariat’s meeting lasted over three hours and was marred by clashes with opposition MPs who walked out of the meeting and attempted to block the proceedings.

The disciplinary measures come after Monday’s session, where tensions flared as opposition MPs, protesting against the government, set chairs on fire outside parliament.

Despite these measures, the Democratic Party has vowed that protests will continue and threatened to disrupt parliament’s next plenary session set to convene on Thursday.

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The Council of Ministers decided on Wednesday to partially suspend the intergovernmental agreement on the mutual cancellation of visa requirements under a proposal by the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs.

According to the decision, the partial suspension applies to the diplomatic and service passport holders.

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