Albania's Capital Gripped by Sixth Day of Protests as PM Rama Defies Calls for Resignation

Tirana, Albania – Violent anti-government protests have engulfed Albania’s capital for a sixth consecutive day, with Prime Minister Edi Rama, currently serving his fourth term, firmly rejecting calls for his resignation. Hundreds of demonstrators converged again on Sunday in front of the Ministry of Education, their chants of “Rama, resign” met by a tense standoff with police. Authorities responded with rubber bullets, water cannons, and tear gas to disperse the crowds.

The city center has seen shops and institutions board up their premises, while city workers preemptively removed paving stones to prevent their use as projectiles by protesters. Lindita Karadaku, a journalist with Albanian news outlet TV Klan, commented to Al Jazeera on Sunday that the trajectory and duration of the unrest remain uncertain. “Prime Minister Rama is determined and has made it very clear that he will not resign, but also the young people who are protesting are determined and make it clear that they will not give up so easily,” she stated, adding, “At this moment, no one is clear what tomorrow will bring.”

During a live social media broadcast on Sunday, Rama asserted that “the government is not being challenged” but suggested that the ongoing unrest could jeopardize Albania’s aspirations for European Union membership. “Albanians need to think very clearly,” Rama urged. “⁠Do they want this, or do they want the EU?” Albania is aiming for EU membership status by 2030.

Key Demands: Protesters are voicing demands for improved education, increased employment opportunities, an end to alleged corruption, and Rama’s resignation. Local media reports indicate that demonstrators have primarily targeted government institutions and police, including the Ministry of Education building and the vicinity of Rama’s office.

Rama, who has been in office since 2013, attributed the surge in protests to the influence of a “foreign hand” and maintained that his government is actively working to combat corruption. He also expressed readiness to address students’ legitimate concerns and discuss educational costs, but stressed that those responsible for property destruction must be held accountable.

A Ministry of Health report released Sunday morning indicated that 65 individuals were injured, including 37 police officers, with 12 requiring hospitalization. Since Tuesday, a total of 272 people have been injured in the clashes, comprising 169 police officers.

Discontent within Albania has been simmering for months. The year’s initial protests, dubbed the “Flamingo Revolution,” commenced in May, sparked by opposition to a controversial luxury tourist complex project in southern Albania, reportedly affiliated with Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of former US President Donald Trump.