Students and university lecturers took to the streets for the tenth day of protests, but Albania’s parliament refused to address their concerns.
Parliament did not discuss the political situation in the country. Even the laws were passed in record time, without any debate.
The parliamentary session lasted less than an hour. In a chaotic atmosphere, the Socialist majority passed several laws without any prior review, which the government says are necessary.
Opposition MPs stood up and shouted “Resign!” while their Socialist colleagues raised their voting cards.
The opposition Democratic Party had asked for the entire parliamentary session to focus on the protesters’ demand for Prime Minister Edi Rama to step down and for a caretaker government to be formed to lead the country to early elections.
However, the governing majority insisted that the government must continue its work and that the priority is passing laws needed to close the chapters in Albania’s EU accession negotiations.
The voting was also marked by several physical clashes between MPs from the two political sides. This led to members of the Republican Guard, who are responsible for security during parliamentary sessions, entering the chamber.
Parliament returned to work after last week’s session was cancelled due to mass protests by students and young people and violent clashes in the streets of Tirana.
The parliament building was surrounded by a wide security zone due to fears of clashes with protesters demanding the prime minister’s resignation.
Prime Minister Edi Rama himself is not in Tirana. He travelled to neighbouring Montenegro last night to attend the annual meeting of the Berlin Process. The initiative, led by Germany, aims to bring Western Balkan candidate countries closer to the European Union.
In recent days, German Members of the European Parliament have commented on the events. One of them, Thomas Waitz, said that protests against corruption and demands for quality education reflect European values, while violence against protesters goes against these ideals.
On Thursday, protesting students and university lecturers gathered again in front of the Polytechnic University of Tirana. They first marched towards the Prime Minister’s Office and then towards the parliament building.
The students and lecturers called for the government to step down. They hold it responsible for the difficult economic and social situation, growing inequality, its arrogant attitude towards the concerns of large sections of the population, and police violence during protests in recent days.
For ten days, thousands of students, school pupils, young people and other citizens have taken part in demonstrations, which have often turned into violent clashes with the police.
The police have used force against protesters. Students have described this force as excessive and unprovoked.
Prime Minister Rama has claimed that the protests are being driven by countries hostile to Albania, such as Russia and Iran; foreign intelligence services; the ideology of far-left groups such as Antifa; organised crime; and opposition parties seeking to block Albania’s EU membership.
Today, he again invited students to take part in dialogue by placing signs reading “Dialogue” on stone pillars in front of the Prime Minister’s Office.
Protesters have rejected this invitation since the first day of the demonstrations, saying they no longer trust Prime Minister Rama. They accuse his government of creating widespread corruption.
In recent years, several government ministers have faced corruption charges and other serious accusations.
Over the past 12 months, the Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Prosecution Office (SPAK) has investigated Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku and brought charges against her related to corruption, hiding assets and money laundering.
Prime Minister Rama and the Socialist majority rejected the prosecutors’ request to lift her immunity, voting against it in parliament.
After Balluku, the head of AKSHI, the government agency responsible for digital infrastructure, was also arrested on corruption charges and accused of creating an organised criminal group.
A month ago, SPAK placed the head of Albania’s intelligence service under house arrest over alleged links to organised crime and the disclosure of secret documents.
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