Thursday, July 23rd was supposed to be the last and final session of this parliamentary session, with over 30 items on the agenda. But plans changed at the last minute. The Socialists have been informed that they will not be leaving for the summer holidays, as the Conference of Speakers will bring them back to the Assembly on July 30th, with only two draft laws on the agenda: the one on archives and the copyright law.
At first glance, these are two initiatives that could easily wait until September. This is precisely what has raised questions, not only in the opposition, but also within the Socialist Party.
In parallel, protesters have confirmed that they will gather again this Thursday morning in front of the Parliament. The scenario of throwing eggs at MPs is expected to be repeated, while the reaction of the security forces is expected to be the same as on previous occasions.
But, according to sources, the biggest concern of Socialist MPs is not Thursday's protests, but the expanded meeting of the parliamentary group on Friday, called by Prime Minister Edi Rama.
After almost 14 years in power, SP MPs have learned that when Rama changes the political calendar, there is usually a reason that goes beyond the official agenda.
A scenario that has not been officially confirmed has been circulating in the corridors of the majority for days: the possibility of a cabinet reshuffle.
Such a move would not come at an ordinary moment. Political pressure on the government has been increased by citizen protests, while recent developments in SPAK have brought back to the center of the debate the issue of political responsibility and the way the government is dealing with the opposition's accusations and the climate created in public opinion.
Signals of the prime minister's discontent have been given even earlier. Just two weeks ago, at a parliamentary group meeting, Rama publicly criticized several ministers and political leaders, including the speaker of the parliament, Niko Peleshi, demanding more commitment to defending the government and the prime minister himself, not only on the ground, but also on social media.
This rebuke was interpreted by many socialists as a warning that Rama's patience is running out towards those he considers passive in the political battle.
If the cabinet reshuffle scenario turns out to be true, then the decision to add a parliamentary session on July 30 makes sense. New ministers must be decreed by the President and sworn in by the Assembly before they can officially take office. Without this procedure, the government would enter August with dismissed ministers still in office.
There is currently no official confirmation that cabinet changes will be announced on Friday. However, the way the parliamentary calendar has been reorganized, the expanded meeting of the socialist group, and the prime minister's recent signals have made expectations higher than usual.
In the Socialist Party, more than Thursday's protest, eyes are now on Friday. Because the experience of these years has shown that Edi Rama's surprises are usually announced not by statements, but by movements in the political calendar.
