Heated debate between Ina Zhupa and Erion Malaj at the parliamentary Culture Committee over the copyright bill

Discussions at the parliamentary Committee on Culture during the hearing with interest groups on the draft law “On some additions and amendments to Law No. 35/2016, On copyright and other rights related thereto” began with a debate between Democratic Party MP Ina Zhupa and Socialist MP Erion Malaj.

At the center of the debate were the tensions at the previous day’s session in Parliament and the opposition protest.

Zhupa accused the majority of obstructing debate in Parliament and raised claims of police violence against protesters, while Malaj countered by declaring that the session had proceeded according to the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure and condemned both violence against protesters and against police officers.

“Dear colleagues, yesterday we witnessed a shameful plenary session where by force of the voting card you immediately pushed through two draft laws with your vote,” Zhupa said, accusing the majority of not allowing Parliament to discuss the opposition’s demand for the accountability and resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama.

The Democratic MP also dwelt on the clashes outside Parliament. Zhupa also raised accusations about the functioning of state institutions, mentioning SHISH, AKSHI and the State Police. According to her, the situation also affects national security, because of the sensitive information Albania exchanges with NATO partners.

Despite the criticism, Zhupa said she had taken part in the Committee meeting because of the importance of the draft law under review, which she described as a European Union requirement. She demanded that interest groups be heard before its approval.

In response, MP Erion Malaj rejected the claim that the majority had obstructed parliamentary debate. According to him, the opposition’s demand for a motion with debate with the prime minister had to follow the procedure foreseen by the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure.

“Yesterday, you requested a change to the agenda and a motion with debate, but a motion with debate with the prime minister does not pass through the plenary session,” Malaj said.

He argued that the request should have been addressed to the Speaker of Parliament, handled at the Conference of Chairpersons and then included in the agenda. According to Malaj, because this procedure had not been followed, the majority sought the continuation of the previously approved agenda.

“Three hours of hearings were held on procedure,” Malaj said, adding that the importance of the issues raised by the opposition does not, in his view, justify violating the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure.

The debate then shifted to justice and violence during the protests. Malaj said the majority does not interfere in matters that belong to the judiciary and that whoever is found responsible must face it.

On the protest, the Socialist MP said he disagrees both with violence against protesters and with violence or insults against police officers.

“Just as you feel sorry that a protester was assaulted, you should also feel sorry for a police officer, Mrs. Zhupa, because the police officer is not mine, he belongs to the Albanian state, not to my party. No form of violence is right to be committed by anyone, and do not treat it that way, as if you are pouring gasoline on the fire. We too will not stand by anyone when they face justice,” Malaj told the Democratic MP.