Albanian opposition lawmakers have escalated their protests against the government by disrupting a parliamentary session with smoke flares and verbal attacks on Prime Minister Edi Rama.
What happened
On Thursday, members of the main opposition Democratic Party set off flares that filled the chamber with colored smoke and blocked access to the podium during a vote on a central bank bill. Opposition leader Sali Berisha declared that the ruling lawmakers were criminals who deserved punishment, before his microphone was cut off. The chaos in parliament reflects the ongoing unrest in the country, where student-led protests have been demanding Rama's resignation over alleged government corruption, underfunded schools, and economic issues.
The protests, which began on October 13, have turned violent, with clashes between demonstrators and police, and have spread to several cities across the country. In response, Rama has introduced strict new measures, including fines for participating in violent protests, and has blamed outside forces for manipulating the movement.
The situation remains tense, with another demonstration scheduled for Saturday. The opposition's actions in parliament have added to the sense of crisis, with the Democratic Party using the smoke flares and verbal attacks to express their frustration with the government.
