Rama Attributes Escalating Student Protests to Foreign Interference

Riot Police Face Protesters for Fourth Day as Albanian Students Rally Against Corruption and University Woes

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has blamed “foreign hands” for the increasingly violent student-led protests calling for his resignation.

Clashes erupted outside the Ministry of Education for the fourth consecutive day, as thousands of young Albanians marched through Tirana on Friday. Demonstrators highlighted widespread government corruption and poor university conditions as the primary grievances driving the movement.

In a video address, Rama asserted, “This is not a student phenomenon. There are foreign hands that do not wish for Albania to be at peace.” He further insisted that the unrest “has absolutely nothing to do with the hardships, problems, or legitimate aspirations of anyone who desires a better life.”

Police responded with water cannons and tear gas, while protesters hurled rocks and other missiles. The confrontations have intensified across several cities. Local media reported that demonstrations in Elbasan, Shkodra, and Korça involved window‑breaking and the burning of rubbish bins.

The current wave of unrest follows months of largely peaceful demonstrations that originated from the controversial sale of a portion of Albania’s coastline to a luxury resort development linked to Jared Kushner, son‑in‑law of former U.S. President Donald Trump.

Over the past days, protests have increasingly targeted financial and governmental institutions. Demonstrators attacked the Ministry of Education with bricks and concrete blocks, and set fire to multiple buildings, including the Prime Minister’s office, the ministries of finance and justice, and several bank branches.

A police statement announced that 160 individuals were detained on Thursday evening for alleged acts of violence.

The EU question

Protesters are demanding Rama’s resignation, alongside electoral reforms and changes to the education system.

Rama, whose administration denies involvement in corruption, indicated a willingness to discuss rising education costs but rejected calls for his departure. On Thursday, he stated, “My responsibility is to listen, address legitimate concerns, and keep Albania moving forward.”

He warned that his removal “would be a betrayal of the Albanians who gave me a strong mandate to complete negotiations on European Union membership,” underscoring the political stakes tied to EU accession.

Corruption scandals have complicated Albania’s EU membership bid. Analysts describe the country as a focal point for criminal networks involved in drug trafficking, arms trade, and money‑laundering activities.

Rama secured a fourth term last year on a platform promising EU integration, targeting membership as early as 2028.

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