Albania's leader defies calls to resign as student protesters rampage in capital

Violent protests erupted in Tirana, Albania, for the third consecutive day on October 15, 2026, as demonstrators clashed with riot police in the capital. Protesters threw stones, firecrackers, and other objects at law enforcement, who responded with tear gas and water cannons. Fires broke out in the city center, consuming trees and a roadside structure as firefighters worked to control the blazes. Footage captured protesters running through smoke-filled streets, dismantling police barriers, and returning tear-gas canisters to officers. Shops and banks sustained damage, with some being looted. Police reported vandalism targeting ATMs, cameras, vehicles, and fencing. Burnt-out cars, shattered windows, and destroyed offices were scattered throughout the capital, where residents and workers began cleaning up debris as the demonstrations continued. The unrest began three days earlier as student protests over the cost and quality of higher education evolved into a broader challenge to Prime Minister Edi Rama’s government. Students demanding improved university conditions, financial support, and better job prospects joined the Flamingo movement, which opposes a luxury resort project tied to Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law. The movement also calls for Rama’s resignation due to alleged corruption. Prime Minister Edi Rama condemned the chaos as being orchestrated by the opposition. In a written response to Reuters, he stated that democratic elections determine changes in government, rejecting calls for his resignation. He visited the remnants of a charred office on a Tirana campus and claimed the violence was fueled by opposition figures. This marked his first public comments since the protests began. Affrontments occurred in multiple areas of Tirana, with protesters targeting government buildings, banks, and shops. In the northwestern city of Shkodra, demonstrators broke the windows of the town hall and threw stones at seats belonging to the ruling party. Media footage showed similar confrontations in coastal cities in the south, including students in Korçë breaking school windows and blocking roads. Teftalia Papa, a journalism student, told AFP that the protesters wanted a better Albania, one where healthcare provides essential services, education offers decent conditions and equal opportunities, and students can study and live without being overwhelmed by rising living costs. On Tuesday and Wednesday, intense clashes took place in Tirana as protesters forced entry into several official buildings and set at least one ablaze. When demonstrations resumed on Thursday morning, police pushed back crowds attempting to approach the Ministry of Education. According to police, 65 individuals were arrested for attacking officers, institutions, and both public and private property during Wednesday’s protests. The Health Ministry reported that 89 people, including 61 police officers, received medical care at two Tirana hospitals following the demonstrations on Wednesday. Chief of Police Skender Hita stated that 71 officers were injured, some seriously, and urged protesters to distance themselves from masked and violent individuals, promising that police would not yield. Rama met with his parliamentary group on Thursday morning, while protest groups issued an ultimatum demanding his resignation before 1 p.m. local time. However, before the deadline passed, protesters had already begun clashing with police, erecting makeshift barriers and setting trash cans alight. The European Union delegation in Tirana reiterated its calls for de-escalation, urging protesters to exercise restraint and avoid acts of violence, stating that violence has no place in democracies. Rama further accused unnamed foreign forces of inciting the protests, claiming they aimed to undermine Albania’s efforts to join the European Union. He criticized the encouragement of minors to wear masks, tear up sidewalks, and throw stones at police.