Socialist MP Erion Braçe addressed Parliament on Monday following a tragic accident in Durrës that left two children dead, urging sweeping changes to the country’s Criminal Code.

Speaking with visible emotion, Braçe said the current legal framework fails to properly classify and punish serious road crimes, particularly those involving drunk driving. He described the incident as a “deliberate killing,” rejecting its treatment as a traffic violation or accident.

“Two families buried their children today,” Braçe told lawmakers. “Anyone who has children understands the weight of this loss. A third child is left with severe emotional and psychological trauma. This is the consequence of a serious crime committed on a neighborhood road.”

Braçe criticized what he called a pattern of leniency in handling such offenses. He argued that individuals caught driving under the influence are often detained briefly and then released within days, facing minimal consequences such as fines, temporary license suspensions, or point deductions.

“The message being sent is that you can drink, drive, and face only minor penalties,” he said. “If you have money, you can even avoid harsher consequences. This is not a violation of rules — this is murder.”

The lawmaker also referenced a recent video he shared publicly, aiming to challenge what he described as the “normalization” of such crimes in society.

Calling for urgent reform, Braçe urged Parliament to redefine severe traffic incidents involving intoxicated drivers as intentional homicide, rather than regulatory violations.

The fatal accident in Durrës has sparked renewed debate in Albania over road safety, legal accountability, and the effectiveness of current penalties for dangerous driving.