First session after elections starts with clashes and tensions in Albania

DP Chairman Sali Berisha held a fierce debate with Parliament Speaker Elisa Spiropali, who interrupted his speech and accused him of trying to destabilise parliament's work after the election was lost.

Spiropal: Time is up

Berisha: What time

Spiropal: Your time is up, it's over.

Berisha (speaks without a microphone)

At one point, Berisha also addressed Minister Blendi Gongha with personal and accusing statements, which added tension to the hall.

Dear citizens and citizens, whoever you see there, he changed his last name. He's now called Blendi Jabbatt. He is Blendi Xhabatt, a worse bandit, more dangerous than Robert and Alfred Xhabatt. There he is! He's the same as you, because you came as Spiropal and ended up like Spirojok.

This also brought the reaction of MP Niko Pelesh.

Pelesh: We agree to start work, most of all for Albanians, we're the Parliament. We're in the circus. Of course, we have every reason to seek discussions abroad that we have many reasons and thanks, but the moment is we have some intensive sessions by the end of July. He's the same as you came as Spiropal and left like Spirolook.

Spiropal: To abolish the right to speak, you can't come here after your humiliating loss and try to destroy Albania's Parliament. This is the agenda, you applied, you can't talk, you closed it like you always did. Close the plenary session.

Meanwhile, the majority approved with its votes the calendar of laws to be reviewed by July 8th, the date marking the end of this legislature.

The opposition accused the majority of denying the right to speech and of spaces that guarantee the Parliament's regulation. Despite the clashes, the session was closed without deepening discussions and without any significant political decision.