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.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs Albanias Prime Minister Says He Will Not Step Down Despite StudentLed Protests
1 What is happening in Albania right now
Albanias prime minister is facing studentled protests and he has announced he will not resign despite the pressure
2 Who is Albanias prime minister
Edi Rama He has been prime minister since 2013 and leads the Socialist Party
3 Why are students protesting
The protests grew out of student demands including better conditions and anger over government corruption and accountability They have since widened into broader antigovernment demonstrations
4 What did the prime minister say
He said he will not step down calling the protests politically motivated and vowing to stay in office
5 What do the protesters want
They want the prime minister and his government to resign and they are demanding free and fair early elections
6 How long have the protests been going on
The protests began in late 2025 and have continued for weeks with large crowds gathering in Tirana the capital
7 Have the protests turned violent
Some clashes have occurred between police and demonstrators and there have been reports of injuries and arrests Many protests have remained largely peaceful
8 Is this the first time Albania has seen protests like this
No Albania has a history of large antigovernment protests including major demonstrations in 2019 and 2020 This wave is notable for being studentled
9 What is a noconfidence motion and does it matter here
It is a formal vote by parliament on whether it still supports the government If it passes the government must resign So far the prime ministers party has enough seats to survive such votes
10 Can the prime minister legally refuse to resign
Yes In a parliamentary system a prime minister stays in office unless parliament removes them they lose an election or they choose to quit Public protests alone do not force a resignation
11 What is the opposition doing
Opposition parties are supporting the protests and pushing for early elections hoping to turn public anger into political change
12 What has been the international reaction
The EU and Western partners have called for calm and dialogue Albania is a NATO member and hopes to join the EU so stability matters to its international standing
