Demonstrators are demanding resignation of Edi Rama after three days of clashes in Tirana
Albania’s prime minister, Edi Rama, has said he will not resign over student-led demonstrations, as protesters and police clashed in the country’s capital for a third consecutive day.
Police used teargas and water cannon to disperse demonstrators marching along several main roads around Tirana, while protests spread to other cities.
Demonstrators are demanding Rama’s resignation and more support for students in the country, citing poor university conditions and high tuition fees.
“As for calls for my resignation, governments are changed through democratic elections. We had elections last year, not a revolution,” Rama said in written responses to Reuters.
“My responsibility is to listen, address legitimate concerns and keep Albania moving forward. The alternative would be a betrayal of the Albanians who gave me a strong mandate to complete negotiations on European Union membership.”
Rama said he would be ready to discuss the rising cost of education, but added: “Attacking institutions, destroying public property and threatening public safety have nothing to do with the legitimate demands of students.”
There were hours of violent clashes between police and demonstrators in Tirana on Tuesday and Wednesday , when protesters smashed their way into several government buildings and set at least one on fire.
Police said 51 officers were injured during Wednesday’s protests and 65 people were arrested on suspicion of “attacking police officers, institutions, public and private property”.
Police did not give figures for the number of protesters hurt but Tirana public hospital reported that “seven protesters injured in the violence sought medical treatment”.
The protests mark the biggest challenge yet to Rama, who won a fourth term last year.
The unrest follows months of mostly peaceful demonstrations sparked by plans to build a luxury resort on Albania’s southern coast backed by Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner , a project that has faced legal challenges.
“Corruption must be confronted and, as the EU itself has recently reaffirmed, Albania is tackling it as never before,” Rama said.
“Perhaps some forces, at home and abroad, do not want Albania to succeed as a forerunner for EU membership. But I will not allow violence to derail Albania’s European future.”
The EU’s delegation in Tirana repeated its earlier calls for de-escalation, strongly condemning the “violent escalation at the protest and the destruction of public and private property”.
“We call on protesters to exercise restraint and to refrain from any acts of violence. Violence has no place in democracies,” it said in a statement.
Along with Montenegro, Albania is leading the EU accession process among Balkan countries and is aiming for entry as early as 2028.