Albanian Police Use Force as Protesters Demand Edi Rama Resign
Prime Minister Edi Rama refused to resign and introduced steep fines after violent student-led protests erupted in Tirana over corruption and education standards.
Anti-government protests in Albania escalated over the weekend, with student-led demonstrators clashing with security forces in Tirana. On Saturday, riot police deployed tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets to disperse crowds that had gathered outside the Education Ministry and set fire to the entrance of the Agriculture Ministry.
Edi Rama, who has served as prime minister since 2013, faced demands for his resignation based on allegations of government corruption, high unemployment, and poor education standards. The unrest follows a summer of peaceful demonstrations against a luxury coastal development backed by Jared Kushner. By Sunday, protesters marched to the prime minister's office and burned chairs Rama had placed outside as a gesture for dialogue.
In response to the violence, Rama introduced fines of 500,000 lek ($6,188) for any individual participating in a protest that turns violent, regardless of their personal actions. In a video address, Rama stated that while he does not believe all demands are wrong, resignation cannot be imposed through violence.
