Albanian prime minister refuses to resign despite growing student protests

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has insisted he will not resign despite 3 days of student-led protests and clashes in the capital city of Tirana, the Guardian reported on October 15. Police used teargas and water cannon to disperse demonstrators marching along major roads in Tirana as the protests spread to other cities. [1]

Demonstrators are demanding the resignation of the prime minister and greater financial support for students. According to the Guardian, the protesters are citing poor university conditions and high tuition fees across the country. [1]

As FTMQ News reported earlier, tens of thousands of students gathered in Tirana to protest against education costs and social issues. Demonstrators threw bricks and stones at the Education Ministry and set fire to a government building and two banks, while Euronews reported that police arrested 16 people and placed 49 others under criminal proceedings. [4]

The broader movement, known as the Flamingo Revolution, began on February 2 in Baks-Rrjoll over land ownership disputes and planned resort developments. Protests grew in May over luxury tourism projects linked to American investor Jared Kushner near the Narta Lagoon, before violence against demonstrators near Zvërnec triggered wider unrest in Tirana. [2]