TIRANA, Feb. 26 – A tense situation was created in front of Albania’s parliament on Tuesday evening, where the opposition gathered to protest while the majority MPs were in the hall during unexpected session.
A group of demonstrators attempted to break the line of police placed at the main entrance of the parliament’s yard, but were diverted from the use of tear gas.
Some protesters reacted by throwing stones at the police.
The opposition called the protest while an out of order plenary session was being held in the parliament hall. Several thousand supporters of the main opposition Democratic Party and the second-biggest opposition party Socialist Movement for Integration urgently gathered for the protest, as soon as the parliament’s presidency changed the date of the session.
This is the third rally the opposition holds in ten days, demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation and early elections.
DP chairman Lulzim Basha said the protests are aimed at removing an illegitimate and corrupt government and, according to him, a government that was elected by illegitimate votes.
Protesters ignited fires and threw fireflies in the direction of the police.
Meanwhile, the parliamentary session continued in the hall, the agenda focusing on two laws on the structure of the High Judicial Council and other justice bodies.
Police were increased in number, and additional measures were noticeable, including internet interruption in the protest area. Authorities earlier claimed that internet was interrupted for security reasons, but the opposition said it was a new method of censoring protests and messages.
Earlier on, at the beginning of the protest, protesters clashed with two SP lawmakers who were late for the plenary session, but police was fast to protect them and lead them within the building.
