Protests escalate in Albania, students demand government resignation
Thousands of young Albanians gathered outside the Education Ministry in the centre of Tirana on Saturday, marking the fifth day of a growing student-led movement to force Prime Minister Edi Rama to resign, reports BritPanorama.
The protest turned violent when a group of masked individuals hurled rocks at riot police, who responded with stun grenades, tear gas, and a water cannon.
Demonstrations protesting corruption and a lack of jobs have spread throughout Albania. In Tirana this week, protesters smashed windows, set fire to government buildings, and clashed with police.
Police figures indicate that 500 protesters have been detained so far, with 330 being released. Reports show that 120 police officers and 45 protesters sustained injuries, although many more injuries among protesters likely went unreported.
This unrest is emerging as a significant challenge for Rama, who has been in power since 2013 and secured a fourth term in last year’s elections.
The protests follow months of largely peaceful demonstrations triggered by plans to build a luxury resort on Albania’s pristine southern coastline, backed by investors including US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
Villagers reported in July that their land had been unlawfully sold for the development, and subsequent reports indicated that the individual who sold the land is wanted by prosecutors on drug trafficking charges; his attorney denied these claims.
Reports suggest no direct evidence implicating Kushner in the villagers’ dispute.
Rama’s government has faced ongoing corruption scandals, and analysts note that Albania’s status as a hub for gangs involved in drug and weapons trafficking complicates its aspirations for EU membership.
Rama, who denies any wrongdoing and stated this week that he will not step down, expressed his commitment to protecting the students’ right to protest. “My responsibility is even clearer during these difficult times … to protect our citizens, guarantee justice, and move Albania forward — together with this governing majority, which holds a very clear mandate: to see Albania in the European Union by 2030,” he stated on Facebook.
Alongside Montenegro, Albania is currently leading the EU accession process among Balkan nations.
The unrest in Albania aligns with a trend of growing protests across Europe.
In France, high-school students have been protesting for weeks, demanding more teachers and better facilities, with the movement appearing to spread to other demographic groups.
Spain experienced widespread protests earlier this month against high rents and a lack of housing, leading the government to call a snap election.
