Albania Student Protests: The Boiling Point of Suppressed Grievances

Student protests in Albania over poor education conditions have entered their third day in the capital, Tirana, while Prime Minister Edi Rama insists he will not resign. Demonstrators are calling for Rama to step down, with several violent clashes since Tuesday.

According to reports, protesters set fire to several buildings in the city, including the prime minister's office, ministry buildings, and branches of several banks. Dozens of police officers and protesters were injured as authorities used water cannons and tear gas to disperse crowds.

"What you are seeing is the boiling point of grievances that have been building up for months," Albanian journalist Arlis Alikaj told Al Jazeera.

Students have complained for months about high education costs and limited job prospects after graduation. Professor and researcher Afrim Krasniqi of the Institute for Political Studies in Tirana told Al Jazeera that students and young people had protested peacefully for nearly three months, "but their demands were largely ignored, while the government often responded with smear campaigns instead of genuine dialogue."

He added that the current escalation reflects "frustration not only with the government, but also with the irresponsibility and unresponsiveness of institutions."

The protests are one of the most serious waves of public discontent against Rama, who won a fourth term in May 2026 but has since faced public anger over corruption allegations involving senior officials.

The unrest in Tirana comes amid a wave of student protests across Europe. In France, high school students have protested and blockaded schools for weeks, demanding more teachers and better learning facilities. They warn that deteriorating school buildings and overcrowded classrooms are eroding education quality.

The protests against Rama's government began several months ago, driven by plans to build a luxury resort along Albania's largely pristine southern coast. Jared Kushner, son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, is involved in the project.

Local media reported that protests spread from Tirana to universities in Elbasan and Shkoder on Wednesday.

Albania is part of the group of Western Balkan economies seeking to catch up with European living standards. However, the gap with the EU average remains stark in purchasing power, wages, productivity, and the quality of public services. Despite economic progress, the country still faces challenges such as emigration, regional inequality, and the need for stronger institutions and the rule of law.

After Montenegro, Albania stands out as one of the countries making the most progress toward full EU membership. Yet behind optimistic political statements, frustration is growing among citizens over the slow pace of European integration and the lack of substantive improvement in daily life.

While opposition groups seek to support the protesters and capitalize on the moment to strengthen their position, Alikaj said the protests are being led by young people and students demanding systemic change.

On Thursday, Rama — who has served as prime minister since 2013 — told Reuters: "As for calls for me to resign, governments change through democratic elections. Last year, we had elections, not a revolution."

Sokol Lleshi, a lecturer at New York University Tirana specializing in political science and international relations, said social change is likely to emerge from a broader coalition of different social groups, rather than a mass mobilization limited to university and high school students.

"Defections of elites from the current governing leadership could open institutional avenues to translate social discontent or resentment into political and policy change. However, the current student protest does not appear to replicate the December 2018 mass movement of university students and its effects," Lleshi said.

The student protests that shook Albania in December 2018 began over rising education costs, forcing Rama to dismiss eight ministers in a cabinet reshuffle and announce a package of measures called the "University Pact." However, some student demands remain unmet.

Lleshi draws some more positive conclusions from Albania's previous experience of social unrest. He said Albanian society is polarized and unequal, "with intermediary political institutions hollowed out," but the legacy of unrest and political confrontation will serve as "a warning to avoid instability."