Kosovo Lawmakers Engage in Brawl Over PM's Speech

 Kosovo was thrown into a state of chaos on Thursday after a brief brawl broke out between lawmakers during Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s speech. The incident occurred when opposition MPs placed a picture of Mr Kurti with a long Pinocchio-like nose in front of the podium before his address.

The debate was centered around measures to de-escalate tensions in the restive Serb enclaves in the north, a move that Mr Kurti has vowed to implement. However, during his time as an opposition politician, he had gained notoriety for unleashing tear gas canisters during legislative sessions.

The brawl began when one of the rival lawmakers doused Mr Kurti with water. This sparked a chaotic altercation in the chamber with legislators engaging in a shoving match. Fortunately, there were no reports of any injuries.

The escalating tensions in the north of Kosovo have been attributed to Mr Kurti’s government’s decision to install ethnic Albanian mayors in four Serb-majority municipalities in May. This has resulted in demonstrations, the arrest of three Kosovar police officers by Serbia, and a violent riot by Serb protesters that saw more than 30 NATO peacekeepers injured.

This has led to increased criticism from opposition parties in Kosovo, who are accusing Mr Kurti of undermining Pristina’s relations with its Western allies. The Prime Minister is due to meet the Serbian President, Aleksandar Vucic, next week in Brussels, where the two sides will be under pressure from the European Union to reduce tensions.

The incident in the parliament is the latest of many clashes in the area since Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008. The bloody war that preceded it, which resulted in the death of around 13,000 people, is a reminder of the fragility of peace in the region. Mr Kurti is now under the spotlight as he attempts to de-escalate tensions in northern Kosovo and restore order in the country.