Albania's opposition leader Sali Berisha called members of the government "criminals" on Thursday as he and fellow lawmakers disrupted a session of parliament in Tirana by setting off flares and smoke bombs.
Berisha and other opposition members stormed the chamber to show support for demonstrators who want Prime Minister Edi Rama to step down. They tried to block a vote on a new law governing the country's central bank, but did not succeed.
"These [ruling lawmakers] are criminals and they deserve tear gas, rubber bullets, cracked skulls and broken bones, not the young people," said Berisha, who leads the Democratic Party of Albania. While he spoke, his colleagues gathered around him holding photos of protesters who were allegedly injured by rubber bullets.
The protests began in May after Rama gave preliminary approval to a luxury resort linked to Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump. What started as a student-led movement has since grown considerably. Demonstrators now point to economic stagnation, alleged corruption, poor education standards and high tuition fees.
The demonstrations are the largest Albania has seen in decades, and they have turned violent. Hundreds of people have been injured, including police officers. Government buildings, banks and private properties have been attacked and set on fire.
Rama has been in power for 13 years and has refused to resign, having won a fourth term last year.
His government has also introduced fines of more than $6,000 for anyone who attends a protest that becomes violent, even if that person took no part in the violence. The amount is six times Albania's average monthly salary of about $1,000.
At the same time, Rama has announced several measures meant to ease tensions, according to the public broadcaster Radio Televizioni Shqiptar. The monthly scholarship stipend for students from low-income families is to be increased, and scholarships have been extended to master's degree students. The broadcaster also reported that Rama has announced subsidised rent for students.
