Arta Marku elected as Albania’s provisional Prosecutor General amid tensions

With 69 votes in favor, two against and two abstentions, the Albanian Parliament elected Arta Marku as the provisional Prosecutor General amidst tensions and smoke grenades thrown in the Parliament floor.

GP Marku took oath in front of the Assembly as the disorder was at the highest.

Democratic MPs stood up in the parliament floor, as they tried to block the oath of the newly elected general prosecutor, while opposition protesters clashed with police forces outside the Parliament building.

Taulant Balla, chairman of the Socialist Party’s parliamentary group, urged that other draft-decisions that are on the agenda should be postponed for the next session.

Meanwhile, in a statement the United States Embassy strongly condemned the violence that took place during today’s protests in Tirana.

“We support the right of citizens to peacefully protest, but damaging of public property, releasing of smoke grenades in Parliament and violence are not acceptable.  We call on all parties to show restraint and encourage calm.”

The statement also reiterates that the judicial reform will soon produce results:

“The people of Albania should not be surprised that their politicians are fighting amongst themselves.  This means the judicial reform is finally being implemented.  The Vetting Commissions will soon have their first results. ”

“The Prosecutor General who refused to prosecute politicians is gone. We will soon see the creation of the SPAK and BKH to investigate and prosecute high-level corrupt officials.  The people of Albania are impatient for justice.   And the politicians are afraid,” reads the statement.

SCAN

*Material i përgatitur nga portali SCAN. Ripublikimi mund të bëhet vetëm kundrejt citimit të autorësisë dhe burimit origjinal.