Anti-government Protests Intensify as Leader Accuses Foreign Powers of Interference
Tirana, CNBC Indonesia – Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has accused foreign parties of interfering in a wave of increasingly violent student demonstrations calling for him to resign. The protests over the past few days were sparked by anger over alleged government corruption and poor conditions at universities.
According to Al Jazeera, thousands of young people took to the streets of the capital, Tirana, on Friday (16 October 2026). They again clashed with riot police outside the Ministry of Education, marking the fourth consecutive day of confrontations at the site.
In a video statement on Friday, Rama rejected the suggestion that the demonstrations were purely a student movement.
“This is not a student phenomenon,” Rama said. He also accused “foreign parties who do not want Albania to live in peace”.
Rama insisted that the protests “have absolutely nothing to do with the difficulties, problems or legitimate aspirations of anyone who wants a better life”.
Clashes between protesters and security forces have intensified. Police used water cannon and tear gas to disperse the crowds, while demonstrators threw stones at officers.
The protests have spread beyond Tirana. Local media reported demonstrations in Elbasan, Shkodra and Korça as well. In some places, protesters smashed the windows of buildings and set rubbish bins on fire.
The escalation follows months of largely peaceful protests. The initial wave was sparked by the sale of part of Albania’s coastline for a luxury resort development linked to Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump.
In recent days, demonstrations have increasingly targeted government and banking buildings. On Tuesday, crowds threw bricks and chunks of concrete at the Ministry of Education. Other buildings in the capital were also set on fire, including the prime minister’s office, the ministries of finance and justice, and several bank branches.
In a statement, Albanian police said 160 people were detained on Thursday night on suspicion of involvement in violent acts.
Calls to resign and EU membership
Demonstrators are demanding Rama’s resignation and calling for reforms to the electoral and education systems. Rama’s government has denied the corruption allegations directed at it.
Rama previously said he was willing to discuss increases in education costs. However, he rejected calls for him to leave the post of prime minister.
“My responsibility is to listen, address legitimate concerns and ensure that Albania continues to move forward,” Rama said on Thursday.
He also warned that resigning would betray the political mandate given to him by the Albanian people.
“My resignation would be a betrayal of the Albanian people, who gave me a strong mandate to complete negotiations on EU membership,” he added.
Corruption scandals have long been one of the obstacles to Albania joining the European Union. Some analysts say the country has become a hub for criminal groups seeking to launder proceeds from drug and arms trafficking.
Rama won a fourth term last year, pledging to bring Albania into the EU. His government has set a target of securing membership by 2028 at the earliest.
The growing demonstrations and demands for his resignation now pose a serious political challenge to Rama as he seeks to bring the Balkan country into the European bloc.