Albanian lawmakers grappled on the floor of parliament on Thursday, as the opposition accused the government of using violence against protesters during more than a week of unrest in the capital, Tirana.
Sali Berisha, the longtime opposition leader and head of the Democratic Party, said opposition lawmakers had decided to act as “the voice for the demands of the student protests.” “This parliament cannot continue; it lacks legitimacy,” he said in a statement.
Several hundred protesters gathered outside parliament during Thursday’s session, but no clashes were reported.
The student-led demonstrations began last week, with protesters demanding better support for education and renewing months-long calls for Prime Minister Edi Rama to resign. They have voiced anger over perceived corruption, the cost and quality of education, poor job prospects, and a deal to sell parts of Albania’s southern coastline to a luxury resort development backed by Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law.
