Albanian opposition MPs disrupt parliament with smoke flares during central bank vote
Albania's parliament was thrown into disorder on Thursday after opposition Democratic Party MPs set off smoke flares inside the chamber, blocked the podium and displayed photographs of protesters they said had been injured by police. The disruption took place during a vote on central bank legislation, while governing Socialist Party lawmakers continued with the session. Four opposition MPs were expelled from the chamber as the confrontation unfolded.
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The protest was the latest in a series of parliamentary disruptions linked to repeated demonstrations against Prime Minister Edi Rama. Opposition lawmakers have accused police of using excessive force against people taking part in the protests, although the allegations were not independently established by the images shown in parliament. By bringing the photographs into the chamber, the Democratic Party sought to press its claims directly in front of lawmakers and the public.
The scene followed similar unrest on 22 October, when opposition MPs surrounded the Speaker's podium, displayed photographs of students they said had been beaten by police and threw objects at Speaker Niko Peleshi. That earlier confrontation also led to clashes between rival lawmakers and required parliamentary guards to intervene. During the latest incident, microphones were torn from desks and chairs overturned, underlining the level of tension inside the legislature.
The disruption matters because it comes at a time of sustained political friction in Albania, a country where parliamentary confrontation has become a recurring feature of opposition politics. The use of smoke flares and other forms of protest inside the chamber signals a deepening breakdown in normal legislative procedure. It also places pressure on the governing majority as it tries to advance legislation while facing public accusations over policing and protest handling.
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The Democratic Party's actions are part of a broader campaign against Rama's government, with opposition figures seeking to keep attention on alleged police violence and the treatment of demonstrators. The central bank vote provided a high-profile setting for that message, but it also showed how far parliamentary tactics have escalated. The repeated nature of the scenes suggests that the dispute is not isolated to one sitting, but part of an ongoing confrontation between the two main political camps.
What remains unclear is whether the allegations of excessive force against police will be formally examined or whether the latest expulsions will lead to further disciplinary action in parliament. It is also not yet clear whether the opposition will continue using disruptive tactics in future sessions. For now, the immediate focus is on how the legislature responds after another session was interrupted by smoke flares, protests and expulsions.
