Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama on October 17 attributed the student-led protests, which have grown increasingly violent and include calls for his resignation, to a foreign hand. Speaking in a video address, Rama insisted the demonstrations were not a student phenomenon and claimed outside forces did not want Albania to remain stable.
On the same day, riot police clashed with protesters outside the Ministry of Education for a fourth consecutive day. Thousands of young Albanians marched through the capital Tirana to protest government corruption and conditions at universities. Security forces deployed water cannon and tear gas, while protesters threw stones.
According to local media, the protests have spread beyond the capital to the cities of Elbasan, Shkodra and Korca, where demonstrators smashed windows and set fire to rubbish bins. Tensions escalated after months of peaceful protests, which began with the sale of part of Albania's coastline for a luxury resort project linked to Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump.
The recent unrest has increasingly targeted banks and government buildings. On Tuesday, protesters threw bricks and concrete blocks at the Ministry of Education, and set fire to several buildings across the city, including the prime minister's office, the headquarters of the Finance and Justice Ministries and several bank branches. According to a police statement, 160 people were detained on suspicion of violent conduct on Thursday evening.
Questions over EU bid
Protesters are demanding Prime Minister Rama's resignation, as well as electoral and education reform. Rama's government denies the corruption allegations. The Albanian leader said he was ready to discuss the rising cost of education but rejected calls for his resignation.
On Thursday he said: "My responsibility is to listen, address legitimate concerns and move Albania forward." Rama also argued that his resignation "would be a betrayal of the Albanians who gave me a strong mandate to complete European Union accession negotiations".
Corruption scandals have hampered Albania's efforts to join the EU. Analysts say the country is a hub for gangs laundering money from drug and arms trafficking. Last year, Rama won a fourth term with a pledge to bring Albania into the EU, aiming for membership by 2028 at the earliest.
