Parliament disrupted by tensions and altercations among opposition MPs
Today’s parliamentary session was disrupted by an incident involving opposition Agron Shehaj and his former Democratic Party colleagues. Shehaj refused to vacate the podium after being denied permission to speak on procedural grounds. Despite being formally expelled from the session he remained at the podium for hours, using the opportunity to livestream allegations of abuses in public investments on his social media accounts, sparking the irritation of DP MPs who accused him of disrupting their speeches.
Why is this important: The incident highlights the ongoing fragmentation within the opposition and the inability of the Democratic Party to build bridges of communication with opposition factors as it approaches the May 2025 parliamentary elections.
Context: The situation escalated when DP Secretary General Flamur Noka forcibly removed Shehaj from the podium, knocking his phone to the ground in the process. Noka, visibly frustrated, urged Shehaj to step aside, stating, “Get out of my way, Agron.” Another MP, Xhelal Mziu, lashed out at Shehaj during a heated exchange, calling him a “parrot” and accusing him of undermining the opposition with his actions.
Following the confrontation, Shehaj announced his final break from the Democratic Party, declaring, “Our paths are now separate,” and accusing party leaders of blocking his attempts to expose corruption scandals.
What’s next: The ruling majority refrained from intervening in the dispute, while the Speaker briefly suspended the session to restore order. The Democratic Party, already struggling in the polls, faces mounting challenges in maintaining unity and in broadening its coalition, with less than four months remaining before the elections.
Shehaj, a businessman who has gained traction through social media platforms like TikTok, has positioned himself as an independent voice within the opposition. However, today’s altercation has added to the perception of discord within the Democratic Party, further complicating its path to electoral competitiveness. The last time DP managed to win elections against the Socialists – who have been the biggest party in every single election over the past quarter century – it managed to build a very broad coalition of all opposition factors or opposition minded individuals.
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