Opposition deputies set a fire in the Albanian Parliament to prevent the budget from being approved

The Parliament of Albania had to interrupt a debate this Monday when several deputies from the conservative Democratic Party caused a small fire by launching lit flares in a failed attempt to block the approval of the budget for 2024, which they describe as “theft.”

In the images of the parliamentary session televised live by the local radio station A2, it was possible to see how the nearly ten flares activated by the opponents unleashed a fire that was put out by security guards with water from glasses and bottles that were in the room. .

The incident occurred while the president of the Chamber, Lindita Nikolla, opened the debate on the budget proposal for next year presented by the Government of the socialist party, led by Prime Minister, Edi Rama.

Previously, at the beginning of the session, there was a physical confrontation between several deputies, followers of former prime minister and now legislator Sali Berisha, with Parliament security guards.

Despite the smoke and tensions, the socialist majority approved the budget in first reading, after which the session was interrupted. Berisha defended this Tuesday the action of his co-religionists to prevent what he called “the biggest robbery in the history” of the country. The flares are “an instrument that set fire to the unconstitutional procedure of this thieving government,” said the politician.

Fraud and embezzlement cases

For her part, the president of Parliament accused the opposition of trying to prevent talk of “increases in salaries, pensions and the repayment of debts.”

It is not the first time that the opposition has resorted to flares and smoke bombs to obstruct the work of the Chamber.

The conservatives accuse several members of the Government of involvement in alleged cases of fraud and embezzlement and have been asking for a parliamentary investigation into the matter for a year, which has not been opened so far. They affirm that the socialists prevent this investigation, which is why in recent weeks they have carried out actions similar to today's.

Opposition leader Berisha is under investigation for suspicion of corruption and is prohibited from leaving the country.