Thousands of students and young people have taken to the streets of Albania’s capital, Tirana, in a growing anti-government protest movement demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation and major changes in education and youth policies.
The demonstrations, which began on October 13, were initially driven by concerns over university conditions, high tuition costs, limited financial support and poor employment prospects for graduates. Students also voiced broader frustration over inequality, corruption and what they describe as a lack of opportunities for young people.
The protests have rapidly escalated, with clashes between demonstrators and police reported around the Ministry of Education. Protesters have thrown stones and other objects at government buildings, while police have responded with tear gas, water cannons and, in later clashes, rubber bullets. Several protesters and police officers have been injured, while dozens of people have been detained.
The unrest intensified after protesters entered the Education Ministry and a fire broke out inside the building. Demonstrations subsequently spread beyond Tirana, with protests reported in other Albanian cities as young people called for political change and better prospects for their generation.
The movement has also been fueled by anger over a controversial luxury resort development on Albania’s southern coast linked to Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law. The project has become a symbol for protesters of alleged corruption, lack of transparency and the influence of wealthy interests in Albania. Reuters reported no evidence of wrongdoing by Kushner in connection with the land dispute.
Prime Minister Edi Rama has rejected calls for his resignation, arguing that governments should be changed through democratic elections. He has said legitimate concerns about education and the cost of studying should be addressed, but condemned attacks on public institutions and property.
By Sunday, the protests had entered their sixth consecutive day, with hundreds of demonstrators again gathering outside the Education Ministry. Police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse protesters, while the government maintained that the violence threatens Albania’s stability and its ambitions for European Union membership.
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The demonstrations represent one of the biggest political challenges Rama has faced since securing a fourth term. With education, unemployment, corruption and economic inequality at the centre of the movement, Albania’s student protests have evolved from campus grievances into a wider confrontation over the country’s political direction and future.
