Albania’s Rama government seeks up to 60-day ban for 20 opposition MPs

The Rama government’s stance has grown increasingly hardline following the brawl that erupted in Albania‘s Parliament during a plenary session on the morning of Thursday, October 22. According to information gathered on the afternoon of Friday, October 23, the ruling Socialist Party is seeking the punishment of 20 lawmakers from the Democratic Party — specifically, their exclusion from plenary sessions and parliamentary committees. Under the proposed sanctions, penalties would range from 10 to 60 days. The request was submitted to Parliament Speaker Niko Peleshi and the Secretariat for Procedures, Voting, and Ethics. The secretariat was set to convene online and announce its decision on Friday, October 23. According to the request, the government is seeking a 60-day suspension for six DP lawmakers — Flamur Noka, Belind Këlliçi, Fidel Kreka, Edi Paloka, Besart Xhaferri, and Luciano Boçi — and a 10-day suspension for the remaining 14.

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Albania: Sharp criticism of Rama

It is worth noting that Edi Rama was not present during the incident, when Democratic Party lawmakers allegedly attempted to block access to the parliamentary podium. The opposition, however, claims that the government has lost its composure and is resorting to efforts to silence dissenting voices. The head of the Democratic Party’s parliamentary group, Gazment Bardhi, publicly condemned the suspension of the lawmakers as a serious act of political aggression and an attempt to silence the voice of the opposition. He stressed, among other things, that Parliament does not belong to the government and that opposition MPs are there by mandate of the people — not by the government’s permission. Harsh criticism of Edi Rama also came from Freedom Party leader Tedi Blushi, who accused him of trying to buy time amid escalating tensions and delay a political resolution.