Student protests against Edi Rama turn into clashes with police in Tirana

Clashes near government buildings

On 7 November, anti-government demonstrations in the Albanian capital, Tirana, took on a sharp form. According to Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH), protesters and law enforcement officers found themselves in a confrontation during which participants threw stones, pyrotechnic devices, and Molotov cocktails at security forces. In response, police used water cannons and tear gas.

The rallies began near the Ministry of Education, where students had gathered. The demonstrators' main demand was the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama. The column of protesters subsequently headed towards the government building, where the clashes reached their peak intensity.

Actions by protesters and security forces

Protest participants set fire to trash bins, blocked roadways, and ripped up paving slabs. In the immediate vicinity of the Prime Minister's office, bottles containing flammable liquid were thrown at police officers. To extinguish fires and disperse the crowd from the central boulevard, law enforcement deployed special equipment.

Opposition stance and duration of the movement

Meanwhile, the opposition Democratic Party organised its own action. Its supporters attempted to join the students, but the latter rejected this proposal, emphasising that their movement is independent of political forces.

Anti-government protests in Albania have been ongoing since October. Demonstrators are demanding not only Edi Rama's resignation but also the reform of the education system and a fight against corruption. Opposition representatives have also proposed forming a transitional government.

Consequences and official comments

According to Albanian Daily News, following the end of the clashes, police detained 12 individuals. Another ten protest participants received administrative fines.

Edi Rama, who has led the Albanian government since 2013 and secured a fourth term in 2025, insists that he will not resign. Previously, the Prime Minister accused the opposition of attempting to destabilise the situation in the country and stated that the protest movement poses a threat to Albania's accession process to the European Union.