French bishops condemn violence and call for dialogue

Prime Minister Edi Rama rejected calls to resign on Thursday following three days of violent student protests in Albania, asserting that governments should change through democratic elections rather than revolution. The unrest, which has spread from Tirana to several provincial cities, centers on allegations of widespread corruption, high tuition fees, and deteriorating university conditions. Rama stated he would not allow violence to jeopardize Albania’s path toward European Union membership, despite acknowledging the legitimacy of some student grievances regarding education costs. The current wave of violence escalated sharply after weeks of largely peaceful demonstrations. Clashes began Tuesday and continued through Wednesday and Thursday, involving tens of thousands of students in the capital. During the confrontations, masked protesters threw stones and Molotov cocktails at police lines. Riot police responded with tear gas and water cannons. The violence resulted in fires at two government buildings, two banks, and several private commercial structures. Authorities reported that 65 individuals were arrested on Wednesday alone, while health officials confirmed that 89 people required medical attention, including 61 police officers. By Thursday, the total number of arrests across the three-day period reached 152, with 324 others placed under investigation. Police data indicated that 71 officers sustained injuries during the clashes. The protests have expanded beyond Tirana to include the cities of Durres, Elbasan, Kukës, and Vlora. In Korca, demonstrators threw stones and incendiary devices at schools, while in Shkodra, a police commander suffered severe injuries. Parliament suspended its session on Thursday due to the ongoing instability. The demonstrations mark the most significant challenge to Rama’s authority since he first took office in 2013. Student activists cited rising living costs and poor employment prospects as primary drivers of the unrest. One master’s student in economics, speaking near a luxury high-rise tower, expressed frustration over her inability to afford housing on a monthly salary of 540 euros. She noted that she shared rent with strangers because her family had emigrated. University lecture halls in Tirana remain empty as students boycott classes. While the protesters demand Rama’s resignation, they have also rejected opposition politicians as viable alternatives, viewing them with similar distrust. Rama addressed the crisis via a video message recorded inside the fire-damaged College of Europe building in Tirana, a facility established in cooperation with the European Union. He blamed the opposition and foreign forces for inciting the violence, describing the destruction as the work of hands that did not belong to students. "Today, these are ruins left by hands that are not the hands of students," he said. "These are the hands of the opposition, which, disguised behind fire and iron, tries to return Albania to where it will never go back." Rama denied charges of corruption and emphasized his commitment to completing EU accession negotiations. He stated that his responsibility was to listen to legitimate concerns and ensure Albania moves forward, warning that stepping aside would betray the mandate given to him by voters. The Socialist Party, led by Rama, secured a decisive victory in last year’s parliamentary elections, increasing its majority to hold 83 of 140 seats. Rama has pledged to secure EU membership by 2030, positioning Albania second in the queue for entry behind Montenegro. However, analysts note that achieving this goal within that timeframe is unlikely. The party has shifted toward the center-right in recent years, promoting privatization and passing legislation often criticized as favoring oligarchs. The current student uprising intersects with a broader anti-government movement known as the "Flamingo Revolution," which has held daily peaceful protests since late May or June. This movement originated in opposition to a multimillion-euro tourism development project in the Zvernec nature reserve on the Adriatic coast. The project was linked to Jared Kushner, son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, and his daughter Ivanka. Albanians objected to the lack of transparency and suspected corruption surrounding the plan to build luxury hotels in a habitat for endangered pink flamingos. The government froze the Kushner-linked project in June. Opposition parties have capitalized on the unrest. Sali Berisha, leader of the Democratic Party, called for Rama’s resignation, while his parliamentary group demanded early elections. However, many protesters reject the opposition, viewing it as complicit in the system. The Flamingo movement has also targeted laws perceived to benefit oligarchs and has highlighted alleged corruption involving senior government figures. Both deputy prime ministers, the mayor of Tirana, and the head of the secret service, all members of Rama’s Socialist Party, have faced legal actions, including arrests and house arrest, related to corruption charges. French bishops issued a statement condemning the violence in parallel regional protests, though their remarks specifically addressed French domestic unrest, highlighting a broader pattern of youth dissatisfaction across Europe. In Albania, political analyst Afrim Krasniqi observed that young Albanians are exhausted by corruption and arrogance. "They want to live in a better country and they are not afraid to use violence," Krasniqi said. "There is no prognosis. Nobody can say what will come next." Rama maintained that he is prepared to dialogue with students specifically regarding the reduction of schooling costs. However, he drew a firm line against attacks on public institutions. "Attacking public institutions, destroying public property and endangering public safety have nothing to do with legitimate student demands," he told Reuters. The government continues to deploy security forces to maintain order as tensions persist in the capital and other major cities.