The plenary session in the Albanian Parliament began with a minute of silence in honor of the former Speaker of the Parliament, Servet Pëllumbi, but continued with strong debates between the opposition and the majority on the agenda and issues of European integration.
The focus of the session was the Democratic Party's request to include the European Parliament's report on Albania in the discussion, but this request was rejected by the majority. The head of the DP parliamentary group, Gazment Bardhi, accused the government of trying to exclude the opposition from the European integration process, also criticizing the lack of opposition representation in institutional forums.
"Since we are integrationists, I want to bring to your attention that the majority that is taking actions to exclude the opposition from the process has continued in the same way in these days, even when the report calls for cooperation. Tomorrow you have called a meeting of the National Integration Council, I want to inform those who stand up on the podium and ask for the cooperation of the opposition, that the only forum where we are represented, we are given an agenda that starts with Taulant Balla and ends with 10 Taulant Balla of the SP. There is no representative of the opposition on the agenda", said Bardhi
For his part, the head of the SP parliamentary group, Taulant Balla, stated that the EP report has not yet been officially approved by the European Parliament and that the discussion in the Assembly will take place next week, emphasizing the need for institutional seriousness.
"The EP will approve this document itself on June 16 or 17 because the Commission has approved it and the parliament will approve it. We are asked to approve it before the EP does. We are very ready, but we have planned next week on May 14. This story about getting this 2-minute here, this is not right. The first one makes us laugh that we will wait for the EP to approve it. I believe that there will be a delegation from us in the EP. The draft resolution passed with 55 votes in favor, 7 against, 7 abstentions on Tuesday, it is important that we also maintain institutional seriousness. We welcome the discussion as soon as this document is approved", said Balla.
The debates in the hall expanded to other issues. Balla requested the postponement of the discussion on the Road Code, referring to the tragic accident in Durrës where two minors lost their lives, a request that was approved.
Meanwhile, MP Erion Braçe raised concerns about the lack of responses to requests for information and interpellations, criticizing the administration and some members of the government for disrespecting the Assembly.
The session was also accompanied by a clash between Speaker Niko Peleshi and MP Agron Shehaj, who requested 10 minutes of speech on the rejected interpellations. Peleshi did not allow the request, arguing that the answers had been given earlier, which led to tension and repeated interventions in the hall.
