Albanian MP Taulant Balla condemns coffin display at Tirana protest

Taulant Balla, head of the Socialist Party’s parliamentary group, responded to the appearance of a coffin that protestors brought to the 35th day of demonstrations in Tirana. He claimed the coffin was carried by supporters of the Democratic Party in Durrës, including a faction within the party. Balla recalled that former leader Sali Berisha staged a similar “embarrassing” act 28 years ago with the coffin of the late Azem Hajdar, describing the mockery of a funeral symbol as contrary to Albanian customs and both Islamic and Christian religious traditions. He said he would have given Berisha a response, but “Albanian customs and religious rites do not allow it.”