Parliament is expected to hold today its first plenary session after the cancellation of last week’s meeting, in a tense climate following the recent protests. On the ground, the authorities’ response has been visible: the perimeter of the institution has been surrounded by strong security measures.
Parliament returns after the canceled session
Today’s session comes after the failure to hold last week’s meeting. This is the first time lawmakers are expected to gather since the start of the violent protests, which has prompted police to deploy an increased presence around Parliament.
Parliament perimeter sealed off with fence and police cordons
According to the official version, the measures were taken to ensure the smooth running of the plenary session. In practice, the entire area around the building has been enclosed with a metal fence and police cordons, turning access to and movement near the institution into a point under the full control of law enforcement forces.
Fire truck inside the cordon, water tanker near the institution
A water tanker has also been positioned near Parliament, while a fire truck has been moved inside the fenced perimeter. The presence of these vehicles shows the high level of readiness of the authorities for today’s session, at a time when political tension is being directly reflected in the security measures as well.
The scene around Parliament this Thursday is that of a fortified institution, with measures that go beyond the usual parliamentary routine.
It remains to be seen whether this increased police presence will be enough for the session to proceed normally, in a situation where political tension is being addressed above all through the physical control of public space.