2026-10-28 20:37:00Politikë SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

The head of the Socialist Party Parliamentary Group, Taulant Balla, has issued strong accusations against four opposition figures, stating that they have gradually appropriated the student protest. Invited to the show "Koha Jonë-Debat", opposite Nikoll Lesi, Balla mentioned Sali Berisha, Agron Shehaj, Adriatik Lapaj and Arlind Qori, whom he also held responsible for the acts of violence during the protests.

"They stole the protest little by little, Saliu the first, Agron Shehaj the second, Lapaj the third and Qori the fourth," declared Balla, emphasizing that in a democracy, power is not determined by protests, but by the vote of citizens.

The debate flared up when Lesi asked him if the Socialist Party had intervened to break up the protest. Balla categorically denied it, while claiming that 90% of Albanian television stations are against the government.

The clash continued with the mention of Ergys Agas and the allegations of his influence in Balla's removal from the post of Minister of Interior. Balla did not respond directly to these allegations, but focused on supporting the State Police, strongly condemning the attacks on officers during the protests.

Below, part of the debate between Taulant Balla and Nikoll Lesi:

Balla: Even in Albania there will be parties that emerged from the protests, and you said it very well. I told you, form a party and in this system that we have chosen, the squares no longer determine who governs and who is in opposition. This is determined by the vote. Undoubtedly, the squares on the Friday before the elections have a great weight. To be honest, in Serbia, on Thursday when there was a campaign rally, I realized that the Student List had won the elections, there were 500 thousand people there. But still, they did not stop the process on Thursday, since we have 500 thousand people in the square, and the elections will not be held on Sunday. But we have to wait, because movements of this nature are temporary and then, when they take responsibility for governing, it is something else. Currently, they stole the protest little by little, Saliu the first, Agron Shehaj the second, Lapaj the third and Qori the fourth. And these four are also responsible for those acts of violence.

Lesi: You, as the SP, didn't get your hands dirty to disrupt it as a protest?

Balla: Where?

Lesi: Maybe you don't have any information.

Balla: I am the chairman of the Parliamentary Group of the Socialist Party and I declare to you with responsibility that it is not in the nature of the Socialist Party to involve people. You know that today 90% of television time in Albania is taken up by protests and the opposition. Do you know that today 90% of televisions are against the government?

Lesi: Those television stations that you have given building permits to, tourist resorts that you have pampered and that are now against, they are actually within their rights. Because even the prime minister said "Criminal screens", why doesn't he name them?

Balla: You have 90% of television against the government, which has undone all this propaganda that has been built for many years, because these percentages are not there today. Even 6 months ago, when there were no protests, the opposition had 60% of the television time. But there is no problem.

Lesi: This information that you did not put your hands on in protest, you spoke as a former Minister of Interior? Because regardless of what the portals and some media say, that Ergys Agasi fired you, and in fact it would be better if Gysi fired you, because there is information from the prison that this Ergys Agasi file will be a real scandal for the majority, but you have escaped, because you sleep peacefully.

Balla: During the time I was Minister of the Interior, your family went through a tragedy, your brother passed away, who was one of the best state employees for years, and I was with your family in Lezha to comfort them. And I want to say one thing: The State Police is an organization that only requires support from the Minister of the Interior and more investment from the government. The good news with the budget is that we will have a salary increase, just as I wanted, to tell the truth, when I was Minister of the Interior. In the conditions we are in, we must understand that these days have been black days for the public culture with the State Police. The State Police are not shot, Molotov cocktails are not thrown, because it is the most serious act, and then when the State Police reacts, the behavior is intolerable.


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