“Five rotten Democrats” — the statement that inflamed tempers at the Laws Committee, the fierce debate: You should be ashamed, who are you calling rotten?

A fierce debate took place during the meeting of the Laws Committee, sparked by a statement by MP Olsi Komici, who referred to several Democratic MPs as “rotten”, as Top Channel reports.

The clash began after the debate about filming with a phone during the meeting. At one point, Komici said: “5 rotten Democrats”, provoking the immediate reaction of the MP.

“Who are you calling rotten?! You should be ashamed, you are even an MP of the Assembly. Shame on you,” the MP addressed Komici.

The situation continued with exchanges between the MPs, while Gent Strazimiri also joined the debate, demanding that Komici apologise for the insult.

The full debate:

Ulsi Manja: Mr Komici, what does it matter.

Olsi Komici: 5 rotten Democrats.

The MP: Who are you calling rotten?! You should be ashamed, you are even an MP of the Assembly. Shame on you.

Olsi Komici: Shame on you, you take out your phone and film there (pointing at her with his phone).

The MP: Shame on you. Chairman, do you hear this one’s vocabulary, saying “rotten MP”? Nobody throws me out, least of all you.

Olsi Komici: She walks out with a phone like that.

Gjin Gjoni: What’s the problem? You have your own position.

Olsi Komici: A low act.

Ulsi Manja: Mr Komici, please. Can you let me? Return to the normality of the session. Mr Gjoni, I do not need a lawyer.

Gjin Gjoni: Will you chair the session? Parliament has begun.

Ulsi Manja: If you have a time to go to the session, go. Madam MP, the meeting is open, you may film everything, but it is not ethical. Our vote is public, the voting is also open. You are an MP of Albania and there are some rules of coexistence in the committee, beyond the forces you represent.

Gent Strazimiri: There is no ethical problem if you keep your phone open and film. The ethical problem is that the one I have in front of me says “5 rotten Democrats”. Either an apology is now demanded publicly for the thing. Here we all are together, she can take her phone wherever she wants and, if you have a problem with it, I will stand up for her. It is not for you to speak like that to a lady. Here we are, we are all together. It is not a provocation; a man holding a phone up to a woman is a provocation. A woman filming the vote is not a problem.

Heard from the hall: Shame.

Gent Strazimiri: The shame is yours.

Heard from the hall: It is not ethical.

Gent Strazimiri: There you are on film; if you are ashamed, change your vote instead. I expect an apology for the insult that was made, Ulsi. Let it be recorded in the minutes. Klodiana, open your phone and film, start right now.

Ulsi Manja: Please, wait, I will give you the floor. I am not keeping you here by force. Mr Komici, you have the floor and then we move to the vote.

Olsi Komici: Regarding what I said, I apologise only to Mr Mehdi Leka there, my fellow countryman, because I do not know the others, apart from a few with a few patrols who I do not know what they represent. I am worthy and I have enough manhood to represent each and every one of those who voted for me.