Student-led protests have entered their sixth day in Albania, with demonstrators continuing to call for Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation. Rama has refused to step down, asserting that the protests pose a threat to Albania’s aspirations for European Union membership rather than to his government.
In a live address on Facebook, Rama stated, “I am not being challenged… but a path is being challenged.” He urged Albanians to consider whether they prefer continued protests or EU accession, insisting that governments should change only through elections.
Protests have erupted across central Tirana and other cities, fuelled by dissatisfaction over alleged government corruption, unemployment, and poor education standards. Demonstrators clashed with riot police outside the Education Ministry on Sunday, throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails, while police responded with tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets.
The violence comes at a crucial time for Albania, as it aims to join the EU by 2030. In response to the unrest, the European Commission condemned the violence in Tirana and encouraged the Albanian authorities to protect the right to protest.
