PD Requests Debate Motion on Protest, Fierce Clash in the Conference of Chairpersons Between Bardhi and Balla

A heated political debate erupted in the Conference of Chairpersons after the Democratic Party requested that a motion with debate be held on the protest that has been continuing for days in the capital and on the demands of citizens.

At the meeting of the Conference of Chairpersons, Democratic MP Jorida Tabaku declared that the parliament is completely detached from reality. According to her, the Parliament cannot continue working normally while citizens have been standing for 25 days in front of its building demanding the removal of the government and the prime minister, while also putting forward concrete demands.

Tabaku stressed that the echo of this protest has reached the European Parliament and that the concerns raised by the protesters have also been reflected in the latest reports of that institution. She underlined that these reports addressed issues related to elections and corruption in Albania.

In the same line, the head of the PD parliamentary group, Gazment Bardhi, accused the majority of avoiding a parliamentary debate on the European Parliament’s report on Albania. He said the majority changes its position according to its interests and refuses discussion because, in his view, the document contains serious criticism of the government.

According to Bardhi, the resolution speaks of corrupt laws, raises concerns about media freedom, and criticizes tailor-made and clientelist laws. He also said that the document warns the majority about the political protection, according to him, given to Belinda Balluku’s corruption.

Bardhi declared that Parliament has a duty to hold a full debate on these issues if European integration is not treated merely as propaganda. During the clash in the Conference of Chairpersons, he said the opposition does not seek to become a mouthpiece for the protest, but to listen to citizens and convey their concerns.

He accused the majority of attacking the protesters, calling it shameful, and added that representatives of the European Parliament have also raised concerns about the situation in the country. According to him, while 20 members of the European Parliament speak about the protest in Albania, the majority in Parliament is avoiding any debate on the issue.

In her speech, Jorida Tabaku said: “This Parliament is totally out of touch with reality. If you, as the majority, want to act like this, we as the opposition will not allow it. You cannot behave normally in this chamber when the square in front of it has been full for 25 days with citizens demanding the removal of the government and the prime minister, and who have concrete demands. The voice of this protest has reached the European Parliament and their concerns have become part of the latest European Parliament reports. You have the report and I am quoting it to you here. It is the European Parliament that has discussed elections and corruption. It has discussed imu…”.

Meanwhile, Gazment Bardhi declared: “We see that you are terrified of the debate on the EP Report. It blackens you in every sentence. Taulant Balla comes here and says untrue things. He is the one who said in plenary session that we could hold a motion with debate on the European Parliament report on Albania even before it was approved there. Now that the report has been approved, he says it cannot be held. You want to avoid the debate on this report because it blackens you. Contrary to how you are trying to present it. If it is as you have said, a medal for the government, come let’s discuss it. Why are you hiding from the debate on the European Parliament report? Come and let us hold the debate in plenary. Find the paragraph that praises you. For two weeks you have been wearing out our ears talking about a historic resolution that, according to you, proves the great successes of the government. Then why are you hiding? Or is the truth something else? This resolution blackens you in every sentence, from beginning to end. It speaks of corrupt laws. It warns you about the political protection you gave to Belinda Balluku’s corruption. It criticizes you harshly regarding tailor-made laws and clientelist laws. It raises the alarm about media freedom.”

Later, Bardhi added: “You cannot deny this parliamentary debate. It was you yourselves, I repeat, who said in plenary that the parliamentary debate would be held after the report was approved in the European Parliament. This is a duty we must do. If this Parliament does not treat European integration as mere propaganda, then it has a duty to hold this debate. We have not claimed and do not intend to become spokespeople for the protest. We listen to citizens and convey their concerns. We are not like you, who every day hide behind a keyhole and denigrate girls and women who protest. You are embarrassing yourselves. You, Ulsi, are laughing because you see the cars of emigrants, but you do not see your own cars. What you are doing is scandalous and our duty is to listen to the citizens.”

He concluded by saying: “This is what we are doing, listening to their voice and using every instrument we have at our disposal to convey their concerns and demands. Do you understand what absurdity you are in? Twenty members of the European Parliament are speaking about the protest in Albania, while none of you has said even a single word. But you have no time for this, because you are spying behind the keyhole in order to attack the protesters.”