Edi Rama Refuses to Resign Amid Violent Student Riots
Prime Minister Edi Rama rejected resignation demands as student-led protests over corruption and education costs turned into violent riots across Albania.
Violent anti-government protests erupted across Albania starting October 13, 2026, centering in Tirana and spreading to cities including Elbasan, Shkodra, and Korçë. The unrest, led by high school and university students, merged grievances over rising tuition, poor university conditions, and bleak employment prospects with the 'Flamingo Revolution,' a movement opposing a luxury tourism project on the southern coast linked to Jared Kushner.
Demonstrators targeted state institutions, torching the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Justice, and the Supreme Court, while attacking banks and the prime minister's office. Riot police responded with tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets. Casualties escalated over eight days, with the Ministry of Health reporting 272 injuries, including 169 police officers. Authorities reported over 1,000 detentions and hundreds of criminal prosecutions.
Prime Minister Edi Rama refused to resign, stating that governments are changed through elections rather than revolutions. He characterized the unrest as a "hybrid war" orchestrated by foreign actors from Russia and Iran to destabilize Albania's bid for European Union membership by 2030. While Rama acknowledged that concerns over the cost of living are "real," he condemned the violence as a "red line" and pledged financial bonuses to police officers.
The Democratic Party of Albania backed the protests, calling for a caretaker government and early elections. The European Union and the European Commission condemned the violence and arson but expressed concern over allegations of excessive police force, urging a proportionate response.
