Albanian opposition storms parliament, sets off flares and smoke bombs amid protests

Albanian opposition lawmakers disrupted a parliamentary session on Thursday in Tirana by setting off flares and smoke bombs, as demonstrations continued against Prime Minister Edi Rama. Sali Berisha, leader of the Democratic Party of Albania, led fellow opposition members into the parliament building in support of ongoing anti-government protests demanding Rama's resignation.

Al Jazeera reported that Berisha and his colleagues unsuccessfully attempted to prevent a vote on a new law governing the country's central bank. During the session, Berisha referred to government members as criminals and made critical remarks, while colleagues surrounded him holding photographs of protesters allegedly injured by rubber bullets.

Background of the Protests

• Triggering Event: Protests began in May, initially sparked by Rama's preliminary approval of a luxury resort linked to Jared Kushner.
• Movement Expansion: The student-led movement evolved into broader demonstrations citing economic stagnation, alleged corruption, poor education standards, and high tuition fees.
• Scale and Impact: Demonstrations have become Albania's largest in decades, resulting in hundreds of injuries—including police officers—and attacks on government, bank, and private buildings.

Government Response and Measures

Prime Minister Rama, who has been in office for 13 years and secured a fourth term last year, has refused to resign. The government has introduced fines exceeding $6,000 for attendance at violent protests, an amount reported as six times the average monthly salary of about $1,000.

To address the unrest, Rama has announced several relief measures reported by Albania's public broadcaster, Radio Televizioni Shqiptar:

• Increasing monthly scholarship stipends for low-income students, including master's degree students.
• Introducing subsidised rent for students.

Practical Implications and Verification

Observers and interested individuals can verify these developments by consulting reports from international news agencies and Albania's public broadcaster, Radio Televizioni Shqiptar. The ongoing political situation carries implications for legislative proceedings and public safety in Tirana.