Thursday’s sitting of the Albanian Parliament ended in physical confrontation between MPs of the opposition Democratic Party and the governing Socialist Party, and parliamentary guards had to intervene to separate them. The trouble began when an opposition MP tried to take voting cards from members of the government majority.
How the incident began
Tensions escalated when opposition MP Flamur Noka walked over to the government benches and attempted to take voting cards from fellow MPs. Other MPs quickly became involved, and the situation deteriorated within seconds.
Amid violent protests in #Albania, opposition and ruling majority MPs physically clashed in Parliament this Thursday. #Protest https://t.co/uIHtHYi6K1
— Isa Myzyraj (@IsamyzyrajAlb) October 22, 2026
Clash between Fidel Kreka and Ervin Hoxha
The confrontation peaked when Democratic Party MP Fidel Kreka clashed with Socialist Party MP and former interior minister Ervin Hoxha.
Mr Kreka reportedly struck Mr Hoxha with an object he was holding and then pushed him with both hands, prompting a reaction from the former minister. Other MPs and members of the parliamentary guard rushed to the scene and tried to separate those involved.
Videos circulating from the chamber show MPs gathering around those involved, exchanging insults and trying to hold one another back.
Disruption from the start of the session
Tensions had been building since the opening minutes of the session, when opposition MPs blocked the parliamentary podium and prevented proceedings from running normally.
Speaker of Parliament Niko Peleshi tried to continue with the agenda, but repeated confrontations and protests caused serious disruption. The session ended after about an hour of incidents and tension.
Political context in Albania
The incident comes at a time of heightened political tension in Albania, where anti-government protests are taking place with demands for political change. Some protesters are calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama.
