Albania: Scuffles in parliament as student protests enter tenth day
Lawmakers from the government and the opposition came to blows after parliament’s leadership refused a debate on the protests. Large crowds of students again demonstrated outside the building.
Archive image · Photo: Pasztilla aka Attila Terbócs / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
Opposition lawmakers and members of the ruling Socialists scuffled in Albania’s parliament in Tirana. According to Euronews, the trigger was the parliamentary leadership’s refusal to schedule a debate on the student protests that have been going on for days. Opposition MPs blocked the speaker’s podium, banged on desks and held up photos of students who they said had been injured by police during earlier protests. Some lawmakers shoved each other, tore microphones from desks and threw objects. The session nevertheless continued and votes on legislation went ahead.
Outside parliament, the student protests entered their tenth consecutive day. Some demonstrators pulled down security barriers, and several university professors joined the rally. The students are demanding lower tuition fees, more state investment in education and an end to corruption in the education system. The movement has since turned against the government and is calling for Prime Minister Edi Rama to resign. For almost two weeks there have been repeated clashes in the city centre, with protesters throwing rocks, flares and firebombs and police using batons, water cannon and tear gas.
After meeting teachers and school representatives, Rama said the unrest was an attempt to overthrow the government through violence and ruled out resigning. Legitimate grievances were being exploited by people inciting violence, he said, according to Euronews.