Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama blames foreign hands for ongoing protests

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama claimed that foreign hands are driving the anti-government protests that have shaken the country for months. Demonstrators accuse the government of corruption and neglect, and they are demanding that the prime minister step down, Al Jazeera reported. [1]

The unrest is part of broader demonstrations across the nation. As FTMQ News reported earlier, wider unrest in Albania began in February 2026 over land ownership disputes and resort developments. [1][3]

The recent wave of demonstrations in the capital city of Tirana involved tens of thousands of student protesters. As FTMQ News reported earlier, students threw bricks and stones at the Education Ministry, set fire to a government building and two banks, and demanded lower tuition fees. Police used teargas and water cannon against demonstrators, arresting 16 people while 49 others faced criminal proceedings, according to Euronews reporting cited by FTMQ News. [3][4]

Rama has served as the prime minister of Albania since 2013 and has led the Socialist Party of Albania since 2005. He previously served as the minister of culture, youth and sports from 1998 to 2000, and held office as the mayor of Tirana from 2000 to 2011. [2]

Despite the growing demonstrations and police clashes in the capital, Rama refused to step down and vowed to remain in office, as FTMQ News reported earlier. [3]