A mass brawl broke out in the Albanian Parliament on Thursday, October 22, as lawmakers from the ruling majority and opposition clashed during a heated session. The Albanian Parliament fight comes amid ten days of anti-government protests in Tirana, where demonstrators are demanding political change.
The confrontation involved opposition lawmakers Flamur Noka and Fidel Kreka, along with former Interior Minister Ervin Hoxha.
Other members of parliament quickly became involved as tensions escalated inside the chamber.
According to Euronews Albania, the incident began when Noka approached the section occupied by ruling majority lawmakers.
The Democratic Party politician reportedly wanted to retrieve his voting cards. Several opposition colleagues followed him.
During the confrontation, Kreka struck a voting ballot and pushed Hoxha.
The incident triggered a physical altercation involving lawmakers from both sides of the chamber.
Video footage captured the confrontation as other parliamentarians attempted to intervene.
Albanian Parliament Fight Comes Amid Growing Unrest
The parliamentary confrontation occurred during a period of heightened political tensions in Albania.
Student-led demonstrations have continued in Tirana for ten days, with protesters demanding changes to government policies.
The protests initially focused on education, including high tuition fees and limited employment opportunities for young people.
They have since expanded into broader anti-government demonstrations, with some participants demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation.
On Wednesday, violence erupted outside Rama’s office.
Protesters threw Molotov cocktails toward the building and police officers guarding it.
A small fire broke out before firefighters brought it under control.
Demonstrators later marched toward Skanderbeg Square in central Tirana.
The latest Albanian Parliament fight has added to the tensions surrounding the ongoing protests.
Edi Rama Replaces Broken Chairs With Concrete Ones
Earlier Thursday, Rama responded to protesters who had destroyed wooden chairs outside his office.
The prime minister had placed the chairs there as an invitation for students to sit down and discuss their demands.
Instead of removing them after Wednesday’s unrest, Rama replaced the broken wooden chairs with concrete ones.
He shared a video of the new arrangement on Facebook, accompanied by the message “Good morning” and an Albanian flag.
According to Euronews Serbia, Rama’s invitation to dialogue remains open.
However, protesters have continued organizing demonstrations despite his repeated calls for talks.
Students and other citizens announced another gathering outside parliament on Thursday.
The protest coincided with the parliamentary session that descended into a physical confrontation.
Albania’s political tensions now extend beyond the streets of Tirana and into the country’s legislature.
While Rama continues to call for dialogue, the opposition and protesters remain critical of the government’s response to their demands.
