Albanian Student Protests Enter Third Day, Prime Minister Rama Refuses to Resign

Student-led protests continued for a third consecutive day in Albania's capital, Tirana, on Thursday, October 15, 2026, with Prime Minister Edi Rama rejecting calls for his resignation.

Thousands of demonstrators clashed with riot police, who deployed water cannon and tear gas to disperse crowds. Protesters set fire to several buildings across the city, including the prime minister's office, ministry buildings, and branches of several banks. The Health Ministry reported 89 people injured, including 61 police officers, from Wednesday's riots. Police reported 51 officers injured during Wednesday's protests and 65 arrests on suspicion of attacking police officers, institutions, and public and private property.

Tirana's streets were littered with burned garbage bins, shattered bus stops, and broken traffic lights. Protests also spread to several smaller cities, with students joining university boycotts. The demonstrations began on Tuesday outside the Education Ministry, escalating from months of largely peaceful rallies. On Wednesday, part of the Education Ministry building caught fire, along with a bank near it.

Students are protesting high education costs, poor university conditions, limited employment prospects after graduation, and alleged widespread corruption. The opposition Democratic Party has backed the student protests, calling for a caretaker government ahead of early elections. Prime Minister Rama stated that governments are changed through democratic elections, not revolution, and that he has a strong mandate to complete negotiations on European Union membership.

He said his responsibility is to listen and address legitimate concerns but condemned attacking institutions, destroying public property, and threatening public safety. Rama indicated he is ready to discuss the rising cost of education. His government denies corruption. A student named Kiara described the prime minister as the meaning of the word corruption, while journalism student Teftalia Papa demanded real change, not empty promises.