After eight days of strong protests marked by clashes, the Democratic Party parliamentary group is calling for an urgent session of the Assembly on the situation and on the protesters’ demand for the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama.
In the request submitted under Article 31 of the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure, Democratic deputies ask that the session be held today or, alternatively, on Wednesday. The PD wants the discussion to focus on the protest by students and young people, the demand for Rama’s departure, and the opposition’s claims of police use of violence by the State Police.
In a press statement, Democrats accuse officers of using violence against protesters, including minors, women and girls. According to them, fractures, head injuries and injuries caused by rubber bullets and chemical agents have been reported during the protests.
Full statement of the Democratic Party
For eight days, Albanian students and young people have continued their protest against arrogance, misgovernance, government corruption and abandonment by the Government, articulating as their sole demand the departure of Prime Minister Edi Rama.
During these days of protest, we, the deputies of the Parliament of Albania, have observed serious acts of violence against students and young people. These acts, which show a disturbing and unacceptable use of force by the State Police, have not spared minors, women and girls. As a result, serious physical injuries have been reported, including limb fractures, head injuries, other bodily injuries, as well as injuries caused by the use of rubber bullets and chemical agents.
In the face of this unprecedented situation, it is particularly concerning that the Assembly of Albania has not only failed to take steps to demand institutional accountability for the actions of State Police officers, a considerable number of whom, according to observations made during the protests, were not wearing identification, but has also cancelled the scheduled plenary session, without prior notice and without giving a reasoned explanation for this decision.
In these circumstances, considering the seriousness of the situation and the need to exercise the Assembly’s constitutional and institutional responsibilities, under Article 31 of the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure, we demand the convening of a plenary session today or, alternatively, on Wednesday, with an agenda limited to the following item:
– “Discussion on the protest of students and young people, their demand for the departure of Prime Minister Edi Rama, as well as the acts of violence exercised by the State Police against minors, students and young people”.
We believe that the Assembly of Albania has an institutional obligation to guarantee transparency, accountability and parliamentary review of this situation, enabling its discussion in a plenary session and demanding responsibility for any established violation of the law.
Asking you to take the necessary measures to review this request urgently, in accordance with the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure, we expect steps to be taken to convene the requested plenary session.