Albanian lawmakers clash as student protests intensify

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 23 Oct, 05:50 · Archive

Lawmakers scuffled in parliament after rejecting demands to debate student demonstrations.

Lawmakers in Albania's parliament scuffled on Thursday, throwing objects and ripping microphones from desks as opposition members attempted to disrupt a session. The chaos erupted after parliamentary leadership rejected opposition demands to debate ten days of student demonstrations that had gripped the capital Tirana. Opposition MPs held up photographs of students injured by police during previous protests and blocked the parliamentary podium, while the assembly pressed ahead with voting on legislation.

Outside parliament, large crowds of students gathered at the building's entrances as the protests entered their tenth consecutive day. For nearly two weeks, demonstrators had clashed repeatedly with police in the city centre, hurling rocks, flares, firebombs and fireworks, while officers responded with batons, water cannons and tear gas.

High school and university students are demanding lower tuition fees, greater state investment in education and an end to corruption in the education system. They have joined a broader anti-government movement calling for Prime Minister Edi Rama's resignation. Rama vowed to resist, stating: 'A wave of stones, an attempt to overthrow the government and change those in power through the imposition of violence, something that will never be allowed to happen, in any form or for any reason.' He argued that legitimate grievances were being exploited by those deliberately inciting violence.

How it is being reported

• Albanian opposition and ruling party lawmakers scuffle in parliament over student protest tensionsThe clashes broke out after parliamentary leadership rejected opposition demands to debate ten days of student demonstrations that have gripped the capital Tirana.Euronews · 23 Oct, 05:29
• Albanian lawmakers scuffle in parliament as street protests continueAlbanian lawmakers have scuffled in parliament, throwing objects at one another and ripping microphones from desks.Al Jazeera · 22 Oct, 17:35

In this story: Edi Rama · Tirana · Albania

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem