Albania PM defies calls to resign as student protests turn violent

· Politics · Albania

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama rejected calls to resign as thousands of student-led protesters smashed windows and fought running battles with riot police firing water cannon and tear gas in the capital, Tirana. The demonstrators accuse officials of corruption and neglecting education, and are angry about a proposal to build a Trump family-backed resort in the Balkan state. Protests continued for a third day and spread to other cities. Rama condemned the "chaos."

Why it matters：The unrest tests Albania's democratic stability and could complicate its EU accession path amid rising youth anger in the Balkans.

Key points

  • PM Edi Rama rejected calls to resign as protests turned violent in Tirana
  • Thousands of student-led protesters clashed with riot police
  • Demonstrators are angry about corruption, education and a Trump family-backed resort plan

Sources (original reporting)

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