Tensions in Parliament, the American embassy in Tirana reacts: We are worried...

In Albania, the embassy of the United States expressed today "concern about the recent developments in the Parliament of Albania". In response to the interest of the Voice of America, for a comment on these developments, which for several weeks have made the normal activity of the country's legislative body impossible, the American embassy points out that "a functional parliament and dialogue between its representatives, are of critical importance to provide services and draft laws in the interest of the Albanian people". The embassy further underlines that "the repeated dysfunction observed during the last months is not in Albania's interest".

Members of the opposition have chosen to block the sessions of the parliament but also to obstruct the work of the parliamentary committees, as a sign of protest against the "violation of constitutional rights" through the denial of the establishment of several investigative commissions requested by the right-wing deputies, as well as against the majority's efforts, according to her, "to influence the appointments of opposition representatives", referring to the representatives in the Special Electoral Reform Commission.

The majority, for its part, has kept to the line that regarding the investigative commissions, it is respecting the interpretations of the Constitutional Court, and that it is ready to sit down with the opposition, to discuss their object "to be in compliance with the Constitution".

Parliament is sitting at the moment of discussing one of the most important documents such as the state budget. But the work of the commissions was reduced to the development of online meetings, while yesterday's session, for the approval in principle, was closed with the vote in record time, in less than 5 minutes./VOA