Albanian opposition sets off flares and smoke bombs in parliament
Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha and fellow lawmakers disrupted a session in Tirana in support of antigovernment protests demanding PM Edi Rama's resignation.
At a glance
- Albania's opposition set off flares and smoke bombs in parliament on Thursday, backing protests that demand PM Edi Rama's resignation.
- Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha called ruling lawmakers "criminals" and tried to block a vote on a new central bank law.
- Protests began in May over a luxury resort linked to Jared Kushner and have grown into Albania's largest in decades, injuring hundreds.
Albania's opposition lawmakers set off flares and smoke bombs inside parliament in Tirana on Thursday, disrupting a session in support of antigovernment demonstrators who are demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama's resignation.
Sali Berisha, leader of the Democratic Party of Albania, and other opposition members stormed the chamber and unsuccessfully tried to prevent a vote on a new law governing the country's central bank.
Berisha described ruling lawmakers as "criminals". "These [ruling lawmakers] are criminals and they deserve tear gas, rubber bullets, cracked skulls and broken bones, not the young people," he said. As he addressed parliament, colleagues surrounded him holding photographs of protesters allegedly injured by rubber bullets.
How the protests began
The demonstrations began in May, triggered by Rama's preliminary approval of a luxury resort linked to Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of United States President Donald Trump. The student-led movement has since grown into something far bigger, with demonstrators citing economic stagnation, alleged corruption and poor education standards, coupled with high tuition fees.
The protests are Albania's largest in decades and have turned violent, injuring hundreds of people, including police officers. Government buildings, banks and private buildings have also been attacked and set on fire.
Rama has been in office for 13 years and has refused to resign after winning a fourth term last year.
Government response
Rama has introduced fines of more than $6,000 for anyone who attends a protest that turns violent, even if they did not take part in such acts. According to the source, that is six times Albania's average monthly salary of around $1,000.
Rama has also announced a series of measures aimed at easing the protests. These include increasing the monthly scholarship stipend for students from low-income families, Albania's public broadcaster Radio Televizioni Shqiptar reported. Scholarships have also been extended to master's degree students, and the broadcaster reported that Rama has announced subsidised rent for students.
Source: Al Jazeera.
Questions and answers
- Why are people protesting in Albania?
- The protests began in May after Prime Minister Edi Rama gave preliminary approval to a luxury resort linked to Jared Kushner. The student-led movement has since broadened to include economic stagnation, alleged corruption, poor education standards and high tuition fees.
- What happened in Albania's parliament?
- Opposition lawmakers led by Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha set off flares and smoke bombs and tried, unsuccessfully, to prevent a vote on a new law governing the country's central bank.
- What has Edi Rama done in response to the protests?
- Rama has introduced fines of more than $6,000 for anyone attending a protest that turns violent, and announced measures including higher scholarship stipends for low-income students, scholarships for master's students and subsidised student rent.
