Thousands of young Albanians marched through Tirana on Friday, breaking some windows and traffic lights on the fourth day of an increasingly violent student-led campaign to force Prime Minister Edi Rama to resign.
The demonstrations, which are spreading through the country, turned into a riot in the capital on Thursday, with protesters smashing windows, raiding a bank and clashing with police. They follow months of mostly peaceful demonstrations that the students say the government ignored.
“They are pushing us to the limits,” said 19-year-old protester Enea, declining to give a second name for fear of arrest.
He said his message to Rama was: “To resign as fast as possible before everything burns down.
“The students accuse officials of corruption and neglecting education and say they are angry about the sale of pristine parts of Albania’s coast to a luxury resort development backed by US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
The unrest is a challenge for Rama, who won a fourth term last year on promises to take Albania into the European Union and is aiming for membership as early as 2028.
“We will not bow to violence,” he said on Facebook.
The students, many wearing masks, faced off against lines of riot police in front of the Education Ministry building.
Some small businesses had their shutters down and notes on their facades saying: “We are with you. Do not damage our business all over the town.”
