The head of Albania's Socialist Party parliamentary group, Taulant Balla, on Monday called on lawmaker Marjana Koçeku to relinquish her parliamentary mandate after she announced her departure from the party's parliamentary group to serve as an independent MP.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the Socialist Party parliamentary group, Balla argued that Koçeku's seat was won under the Socialist Party's electoral banner and therefore "belongs to the Socialist Party."

"Marjana Koçeku should give up her mandate. The mandate belongs to the Socialist Party," Balla said.

Koçeku, who was elected in the northern Shkodër district and is widely known by the nickname "NeoMalësorja," announced on June 14 that she was leaving the Socialist Party's parliamentary group while retaining her seat as an independent lawmaker.

In a statement posted on social media, Koçeku said her principles and values remain unchanged from before she entered politics, signaling her decision to distance herself from the ruling Socialist Party.

Her departure reduces the Socialist Party parliamentary group by one member, while Koçeku continues to serve in parliament as an independent legislator.