A parliamentary session in Albania ended amid tension and disorder on Thursday after opposition lawmakers threw objects toward Prime Minister Edi Rama, blocked the podium and disrupted proceedings. Four MPs were expelled, according to the report.
The session was marked by confrontations between Democratic Party (PD) lawmakers and the ruling Socialist majority, with Rama present in the chamber during the disturbances.
Opposition MPs immediately blocked the parliamentary podium, after which PD leader Sali Berisha took the floor.
During his speech, Berisha said Socialist lawmakers deserved the rubber bullets and tear gas used by police during recent protests. Parliamentary Speaker Niko Peleshi responded by withdrawing Berisha’s right to speak for the remainder of the day.
Peleshi suspended the session twice as tensions escalated.
The confrontation followed a vote approving a draft law on the Bank of Albania. Despite the passage of the legislation, opposition protests and disruptions continued during the parliamentary proceedings.
After the vote, Rama left the chamber as the situation remained tense.
The incident highlights continued friction between Albania’s governing Socialists and the opposition over the government’s handling of protests and the police response to demonstrators.
