Accusations of excessive use of force by police during protests, and calls for Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation, sparked debate between opposition and majority MPs in the Committee on Internal Affairs. Democratic Party MP Isuf Çelaj and Republican Party leader Fatmir Mediu demanded government accountability for police actions against protesters, while committee chairman Bledar Çuçi of the Socialist Party shifted attention to attacks on police officers and damage to public institutions.
Çelaj: Violence against protesters requires political responsibility
Democratic MP Isuf Çelaj criticized the absence of the Interior Minister from the meeting, demanding explanations on the treatment of protesters, including minors and injured citizens. “The Interior Minister should have been in the committee to account for the violence against minors and citizens, who have been excessively attacked with tear gas, to the point of broken limbs and plastic bullets fired at the upper body”, Çelaj said. He accused the government of responsibility for escalating the situation and called for political change, making it clear that the protests cannot be treated as if nothing has happened. “We support the students. We need Rama’s resignation, the formation of a transitional government, and the self-dissolution of parliament”, the Democratic MP stated.
Mediu: Resignation is responsibility, not sin
Following the same line, Fatmir Mediu demanded that the government account to parliament for how the situation has been handled. According to him, violence does not affect only the protesters but also damages the relationship between the state and its citizens. “The government must be held accountable before the Parliament of Albania. Let us reach a position on what must happen to our country”, Mediu said.
The Republican Party leader described the government’s resignation as a necessary political response to the situation. “Resignation is not a sin, it is responsibility, a reflection in relation to the situation”, he stressed.
Nevertheless, Mediu distanced himself from the use of violence, emphasizing that the law must be enforced regardless of which side the violation comes from. “Violence is not a matter of numbers. Violence is a violation of the law by anyone, from any side, but especially by those structures that have sworn to uphold the law to protect the citizen, and not the power”, Mediu said.
Çuçi: Condemn molotov attacks on police
On the other side, Socialist committee chairman Bledar Çuçi described the opposition’s positions as political and called on lawmakers to also condemn attacks on police officers. According to him, the use of molotov cocktails, stones and other means against the blue uniforms constitutes violence against institutions that are responsible for guaranteeing public order. “Protest is legal, but violence and vandalism are intolerable”, Çuçi said, calling for those responsible for violations to face the law.