Democratic Party Parliamentary Group vows to attend parliamentary session amidst suspensions and escalating tensions

The head of the Democratic Party’s (PD) parliamentary group Gazment Bardhi confirmed that PD members would attend tomorrow’s parliamentary session, regardless of attempts to block their entry. He stated, “They can put an army or police in our way, but in a NATO and EU candidate country, preventing MPs from entering parliament shows the true nature of Edi Rama’s government.”

What happened last time in Parliament: During the last two parliamentary sessions, Democrat MPs clashed with security and attempted to block the proceedings. They removed the MPs’ chairs from the hall and set fire to them in the courtyard of the Albanian Parliament in protest of the recent conviction of their colleague, Ervin Salianji, sentenced to one year in prison for false reporting. The incident marked a dramatic escalation of opposition tactics and resulted in the suspension of 24 opposition MPs by the Ethics Secretariat.

The suspension led to violent clashes between PD MPs and parliamentary security forces as opposition members attempted to re-enter the building despite the suspension. The opposition claims the government is using the judiciary to silence key figures like Salianji, who they claim exposed a corruption scandal involving a former interior minister’s brother. The audio on which Salianji based his accusations was proved to have been fabricated in an operation set in motion by Salianji himself.

Incidents in parliamentary commissions: Tensions continued today during a meeting of the Parliamentary Investigative Commission on the Sterilization Concession. PD MP Albana Vokshi clashed with socialist MPs, repeatedly tearing out microphones and throwing objects on the floor in protest. The situation escalated when PD MP Xhelal Mziu physically assaulted Socialist MP Milva Ekonomi. 

Niko Peleshi, head of the Socialist Party parliamentary group, condemned the violence against a colleague MP and d a woman, stating, “The opposition is bringing its crisis to parliament. Physical assaults on MPs, staff, and security are unacceptable and condemnable.”