The key facts
- Third day of clashes between protesters and police in Tirana; 89 people were injured on Wednesday, including 61 police officers (Ministry of Health).
- Students and high schoolers demand Rama's resignation over corruption allegations; the protests, ongoing for more than four months, are linked to the Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner tourism project.
- The opposition Democratic Party demands a caretaker government and early elections; an EU delegation called for a proportionate response and a rejection of violence.
Third Day of Unrest in the Capital
On Thursday, October 15, protesters and police clashed in the Albanian capital Tirana for the third consecutive day. Prime Minister Edi Rama, in a video address, condemned the 'chaos' after riots that damaged government buildings. 'We will get through these difficult hours together, because Albania will continue to rise and move along its path to Europe,' he said, referring to EU accession negotiations that the European Commission intends to complete by 2027. Rama also said: 'No one can grab Albania by the throat. Anyone who believes the law does not apply to them is deeply mistaken.'
Students and High Schoolers Join the Protests
Students demanding reforms in education joined the anti-government demonstrations calling for Rama's resignation amid corruption allegations. On Thursday, high school students came out alongside thousands of demonstrators in the city center, chanting 'Rama, resign!' and paralyzing traffic in the city. One of the protest organizers, Mateo Iskollari, wrote on social media: 'We will come out to the square every day. Our answer to any attempt to silence us is the expansion of the protests, civic mobilization, and disobedience.'
Aftermath of Wednesday's Riots
The new clashes followed the riots on Wednesday, October 14, when protesters attacked government buildings, banks, and private businesses. According to the Ministry of Health, 89 people were injured, including 61 police officers. Also on Wednesday, during the escalation of the unrest, the building of the Ministry of Justice was set on fire.
Context: The Trump Project and the Opposition's Demands
For more than four months, thousands of people have been protesting against a luxury tourism complex project linked to Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka and his son-in-law Jared Kushner; the project has become a symbol of alleged corruption and social inequality in Albania. The opposition Democratic Party backed the student protests and called on Rama to form a caretaker government and call early elections. The party stated: 'This movement is not just a protest against the government. It is a rebellion against the model of governance created by Edi Rama, which has stolen hope from the youth, undermined citizens' trust, and is pushing Albania ever further away from its European future.' Rama's Socialist Party won the parliamentary elections for the fourth consecutive time last year; the next elections are scheduled for 2029.
The European Union's Reaction
The European Union delegation to Albania late on Wednesday evening expressed concern over 'the sharp escalation of violence during the protests in Tirana' and called on the authorities to respond proportionately. 'We call on the protesters to show restraint and refrain from any acts of violence. Violence has no place in democratic societies,' the delegation's statement said.
