Albania’s parliament descended into pandemonium Thursday as opposition lawmakers, escalating weeks of student-led anti-government fervor, unleashed smoke flares that choked the chamber with colored fumes and physically blocked the podium during a critical vote. The dramatic disruption, spearheaded by the Democratic Party, saw leader Sali Berisha vociferously denounce the ruling socialists as “criminals” before his microphone was cut, while fellow opposition members surrounded him, brandishing blue flares and displaying images of injured protesters. This parliamentary showdown mirrors the growing public discontent fueled by student demonstrations demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation over pervasive allegations of corruption, underfunded education, and a stark lack of economic prospects. The protests, which began in mid-October, have already seen violent clashes with police and damage to government buildings and the ruling party’s headquarters, prompting Rama to accuse unspecified “foreign hands” of manipulating the movement and to implement stringent measures, including hefty fines for violent protest participation, even as another demonstration looms.
Adapted from: Latest World News on Fox News
