Ethics panel bars six PD lawmakers from Parliament sessions for 60 days, 14 others get a warning

Parliament's Ethics Secretariat decided on Friday that six opposition Democratic lawmakers will not take part in plenary sessions for 60 days. The measure affects Flamur Noka, Belind Këlliçi, Edi Paloka, Fidel Kreka, Luçiano Boçi and Besart Xhaferri, who during this period will not be able to vote or speak in plenary sessions.

The request had been filed by lawmakers of the Socialist Party (PS) after the previous day's unrest in the chamber, when, according to the request, lawmakers of the Democratic Party (PD) blocked the podium, used insults and threw objects at majority lawmakers. The Socialists had sought the exclusion of 20 opposition lawmakers, with 60-day and 10-day measures.

A warning for 14 lawmakers

For the other 14 lawmakers the Secretariat did not approve an exclusion and settled for a formal warning. The list includes Gjin Gjoni, Bardh Spahia, Albana Vokshi, Elda Hoti, Xhelal Mziu, Gent Strazimiri, Enno Bozdo, Kastriot Piroli, Kliti Hoti, Flamur Hoxha, Arjan Ndoja, Ivi Kaso, Zija Ismaili and Blendi Himçi.

The meeting was held in the offices of Parliament's presiding board. According to Top Channel, staff and participants entered through the Constitutional Court's corridor because the usual door had been damaged by protesters who attacked the premises several days earlier.

After the show-of-cards session

The decision follows Thursday's tense session, when the opposition blocked the podium and the Socialist majority passed bills by raising voting cards, while the PD demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama and a caretaker government. By the time the decision was published, there had been no official PD reaction to the exclusion of its lawmakers.