Parliament was thrown into disruption on Monday after opposition lawmakers from the Democratic Party (PD) blocked the speaker’s podium, preventing the normal proceedings of a plenary session.

The lawmakers refused to allow the scheduled presentation by Ombudsperson Endrit Shabani, arguing that his appointment remains politically contested.

Democratic Party parliamentary group leader Gazment Bardhi accused Shabani of being “Rama’s loyalist,” adding that Albania’s Constitutional Court has yet to issue a ruling on the matter.

Parliamentary Speaker Niko Peleshi repeatedly called on opposition lawmakers to clear the podium and allow the session to continue. After his requests were ignored, he suspended the sitting for five minutes.

When the session resumed, opposition MPs continued to occupy the podium, prompting Peleshi to declare a second recess as the legislative deadlock persisted.

The disruption comes amid heightened political tensions in Albania, with opposition lawmakers maintaining their protest inside Parliament while demonstrations also took place outside the parliamentary building.