Parliament
Balla after PS caucus: No Rama resignation, no snap elections; assembly law to pass by decree
The head of the Socialist caucus said dialogue with students remains open, but not with those who commit violence, and announced that the government is expected to approve the 2027 draft budget this week.
By ANN Newsroom · Newsroom
October 26, 2026, 11:00 · Updated 18:41 · 2 min read
In brief
- Taulant Balla said after the caucus meeting, which Rama attended, that there will be no resignation and no early elections.
- Changes to the law “On Assemblies” will come through a government decree and then go to Parliament.
- Balla said the government approves the 2027 draft budget this week, while on Thursday Parliament votes on the review schedule.
Taulant Balla, head of the Socialist Party (PS) parliamentary group, on Monday shut down any talk of the prime minister leaving. After the caucus meeting, which Edi Rama attended, he said neither the head of government’s resignation nor early elections are on the table.
“Edi Rama’s resignation will never happen,” Balla said, recalling that Rama was elected on May 11, 2025, and has the backing of the caucus and of more than 800,000 Socialist voters. He told students that a change of power in a democracy happens only through the vote and cited Serbia as an example, where, in his words, a protest lasting several years ended up being settled at the ballot box.
Dialogue, but not with those who use violence
Balla acknowledged that students have issues that need to be addressed, although he said Albania provides special support: $600 a month for top students and fee exemptions for those from families in need. Dialogue, he said, is open on every point, but not with those who commit violence. He accused PD of hiding people wanted for violence in its headquarters and blamed its “violence section” for damaging, a day earlier, the memorial plaques to the victims of Jan. 21.
According to Balla, changes to the law “On Assemblies” will be adopted by the government through a normative act, a decree with the force of law, and then go to Parliament for approval, as part of the package against urban violence. He said Parliament had begun weeks ago a number of changes to align the Criminal Code with EU countries and that violence at protests had created the need for “new instruments.”
Budget on the way
Asked about the police response, Balla claimed it had been milder than in France or Italy, while on the eye injury suffered by a young man he said the entire chain was under investigation. He said the government is expected to approve the 2027 draft budget within the week, while on Thursday Parliament will adopt the schedule for reviewing it in committees.
