Albanian MPs fight in Parliament / Opposition accuses government of suppressing protesters

Albanian MPs brawled in the hemicycle of the Parliament in Tirana on Thursday, as the opposition accused the government led by Prime Minister Edi Rama of violently repressing antigovernment protests. The incidents took place after a week of unrest and ahead of a national assembly called by students for Saturday.

During a vote, opposition lawmakers gathered in front of the Parliament speaker’s lectern and demanded that the session be suspended. They displayed photographs of the injuries of a demonstrator whom they claim was beaten by police officers, then threw water and papers toward the speaker of the legislature. The gestures triggered a brawl with pro-government lawmakers.

Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha said that the opposition would represent the students’ demands. In response, Socialist MP Pirro Vengu accused the opposition of trying to use the protests to return to power.

Several hundred demonstrators gathered outside Parliament on Thursday, with no clashes reported. The student movement is calling for better funding for education and the resignation of Edi Rama, who is accused of corruption. More than 300 people, including numerous police officers, were injured, and dozens of protesters were arrested. The protests began in May, amid opposition to a controversial tourism project associated with the family of U.S. President Donald Trump.