The Democratic Party convened the National Council on Saturday in a meeting that concluded with the adoption of several changes in the party’s composition in parliament.

The leader of the Democrats, Lulzim Basha, announced that in a joint decision with the head of the parliamentary group, Alfred Rushaj, the latter will be replaced by Enkelejd Alibeaj.

Also, Basha proposed the appointment of Agron Gjekmarkaj as the deputy speaker of the assembly and deputy leader of the DP.

The other changes adopted are listed below:

• Head of Committee on Labour, Social Affairs and Health: Grida Duma
• Head of Committee on Education and Public Information Media: Flutura Acka
• Deputy head of the Committee on Education and Public Information Media: Dhurata Cupi
• Secretariat on the budget: Xhelal Mziu (secretary)
• Secretariat on procedures, voting, and ethics: Bledion Nallbati (member)
• Secretariat on the status of the policymakers: Dashnor Sula (secretary)
• Secretariat on parliamentary research, library, and publishments: Lindita Metaliaj (member)

Among other topics discussed in the meeting was the violent protest on 8 January.

Basha reportedly declared that it was not an easy decision to expel those who organized the protest, but it was “the right one”.

“The executive council called on the other side to find the courage to distance themselves from violence. They should do that, for Democrats, for the Democratic Party, and for Albania”, Basha is cited as saying.

The leader of the Democrats Lulzim Basha and general secretary Gazment Bardhi testified in front of prosecutors over the violent unrest that ensued at the protest on Friday.

Basha accused former PM Sali Berisha of setting up “an attempted murder scene among Democrats”.

Berisha was also summoned by prosecutors on Wednesday. He accused Basha of protecting himself through mercenaries and terrorists who had come from Syria, even alleging to be in possession of evidence to prove that.