For the third consecutive day, thousands of students demonstrated in Tirana yesterday against the high cost of education, poor university conditions and limited job prospects. The protests have taken on an increasingly anti-government character, with demonstrators calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama.
Violent clashes broke out between police and protesters, who set fire to the Ministry of Education and two banks. According to authorities, 23 police officers and six other people were injured, while 35 people were detained. Police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowds, amid allegations of excessive force against protesters and journalists, which the EU called for authorities to investigate. The EU also expressed concern over what it described as a “violent escalation of protests in Tirana.”
The demonstrations are part of a broader wave of student protests across Europe, including in France and Belgium, over education and living conditions.
The unrest follows four months of anti-government protests known as the “Flamingo Revolution,” which began over plans to build a luxury tourist resort in a protected area of southern Albania linked to Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law. Initial protests over transparency and alleged corruption gradually expanded, reflecting growing dissatisfaction among young people over their economic circumstances and limited opportunities.
The student protests in Albania also coincide with a broader wave of demonstrations across Europe, including in France, Belgium and Italy, focused on the quality of education and living conditions.
Sources: Al Jazeera, Guardian
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