Taulant Balla reacts to coffin at protest and accuses Berisha: He carried out the same act 28 years ago

Taulant Balla, head of the Socialist Party’s Parliamentary Group, has reacted to the coffin that some protesters brought on the 35th day of the protest in Tirana.

In a response published on social media, in which he also shared footage from the protest, Balla claims that the people who brought the coffin onto the boulevard are supporters of the Democratic Party in Durrës, as well as of a faction within this political force.

In his statement, he turns attention back 28 years, saying that Sali Berisha had carried out such an act before as well, when he brought the coffin of the late Azem Hajdari near the Prime Minister’s Office.

According to Balla, mocking the shroud runs counter both to Albanian customs and to religious traditions, whether Islamic or Christian. He also adds that he would respond to Sali Berisha, but, according to him, Albanian and religious customs do not allow him to do so.

“The people who brought a coffin onto the boulevard turn out to be supporters of the Democratic Party of Durrës (also of a faction within it). Sali Berisha carried out this shameful act 28 years ago with the coffin of the late Azem Hajdari. Mocking the shroud, in the sense of ridiculing a symbol linked to death and burial, is not in line with Albanian customs, as well as religious ones, whether Islamic or Christian. Sali, I would give you a response, but Albanian and religious customs do not allow me to,” Balla writes.