Albania's parliament descended into open violence on Thursday as opposition Democratic Party MPs stormed the podium chan...

Albania's parliament descended into open violence on Thursday as opposition Democratic Party MPs stormed the podium chanting "the end has come," threw water, overturned benches, and brawled with ruling Socialist Party colleagues. The session had to be suspended before eventually resuming under fresh tension. University staff gathered outside the Prime Minister's office during the chaos, with union leader Sander Kovaçi calling on them to join students already demonstrating outside parliament. The most striking image from the session came from Socialist parliamentary group leader Taulant Balla, who posted a photo of his bloodied finger after a physical altercation with Democratic MP Flamur Noka. Balla said the violence of opposition leader Sali Berisha would not stop Albania's path toward European integration. Democratic MPs had accused the government of running a "criminal parliament." MPs had reportedly arrived early specifically to avoid the protesters gathering outside, though the confrontation found its way inside regardless. Anti-government demonstrations, driven largely by high school and university students demanding lower tuition fees, have been running in the streets of Tirana for more than a week, with police deploying tear gas and water cannons against protesters earlier this week. At the Berlin Process summit in Montenegro, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz addressed the broader regional tensions, warning that violence and political polarisation must not become the answer to political challenges across the Western Balkans. #Albania #Balkans #Europe