OMM Newsroom
Tens of thousands of students have taken to the streets in Albania to protest rising education costs and corruption. Violence broke out during demonstrations in the capital, Tirana, where police used water cannon against protesters. Demonstrators smashed windows and damaged property. The unrest prompted the postponement of a planned parliamentary session.
The protests reflect growing dissatisfaction with conditions at universities, financial support and limited job opportunities for graduates. Student organizers are calling for improved conditions at higher education institutions, lower education costs, increased financial aid and more job opportunities for graduates.
Violence broke out on Wednesday at a demonstration in Tirana attended by tens of thousands of students. Protesters set fire to a government building and two banks and threw stones at police.
Responding to questions from Reuters, Prime Minister Edi Rama rejected calls for his resignation. He said governments change through democratic elections and that the country held an election last year, not a revolution.
“My responsibility is to listen, address legitimate concerns and move Albania forward. The alternative would be to betray Albanians, who gave me a strong mandate to conclude the European Union accession negotiations,” Rama said.
The prime minister said he was ready to discuss rising education costs but strongly condemned the violence. He said attacks on institutions, damage to public property and threats to public safety were unrelated to students’ legitimate demands.
The protests are seen as the biggest challenge Rama has faced since being elected to a fourth term last year. During his election campaign, he pledged to accelerate Albania’s European Union accession process.
Burned rubbish bins, damaged bus shelters and broken traffic lights in Tirana’s streets showed the extent of the destruction.
Before the unrest in Albania, largely peaceful protests had been held for months against plans to build a luxury resort on the country’s southern coast. The project, backed by Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, has faced legal disputes. In July, local residents told Reuters that their land had been sold for construction without their consent. Reuters said it had found no evidence that Kushner had acted illegally; he is not directly involved in the dispute.
Rama said Albania would continue its anti-corruption efforts and EU accession drive despite the unrest. He said the fight against corruption in the country was broader than ever and that violence would not be allowed to obstruct Albania’s European future.
Albania and Montenegro are among the Western Balkan countries furthest along in the EU accession process. Tirana aims to join the bloc from 2028. However, ongoing corruption scandals have raised questions about Albania’s readiness for membership. Political analysts also cite the country’s role as a hub for criminal networks laundering proceeds from drug and arms smuggling as one of its challenges.
