Student Protests in Albania Escalate Into Wider Anti-Government Unrest

Thousands of people took to the streets of Albania’s capital, Tirana, on Saturday, October 24, as student-led protests over education costs and poor public services widened into a broader movement against the government of Prime Minister Edi Rama, with clashes between demonstrators and police leaving more than 300 people injured, according to authorities.

The demonstration began outside the Ministry of Education before spreading to other parts of the city. Riot police used tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets to disperse crowds, while some protesters threw stones at officers, set rubbish bins alight and started a fire at the entrance to the Agriculture Ministry, Reuters reported. Authorities said several government buildings had been attacked and dozens of demonstrators detained.

The protests were initially driven by students demanding lower university fees, increased public investment in education, better conditions in schools and universities, and stronger financial support for students. Concerns about job opportunities after graduation have also contributed to the discontent. The movement has since drawn support from other groups, including university lecturers, artists and opposition supporters, broadening its focus to allegations of corruption, the cost of living and dissatisfaction with the political establishment.

Protesters are now calling for Rama to step down. He has led Albania since 2013 and secured a fourth term after his Socialist Party won the parliamentary election in May 2025. The scale and persistence of the demonstrations present a significant challenge to his government, although the protests have not, by themselves, indicated that he is preparing to leave office.

The latest unrest follows months of demonstrations over a proposed luxury coastal development backed by an investment firm founded by Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump. Opposition to the project helped fuel earlier protests, while anger over corruption and economic pressures has widened the movement’s demands.

Rama has rejected calls to resign and urged dialogue, while portraying the violence as a threat to Albania’s stability and its ambition to join the European Union. He has also blamed foreign actors for fuelling unrest and online misinformation. Protesters, however, have continued to challenge the government, with some expressing frustration not only with the ruling party but also with opposition politicians.

Saturday’s rally also highlighted the difficulty of separating the movement’s original education demands from the wider political anger now driving demonstrations. While students have focused on tuition costs, education standards and prospects for young people, the protests have become a platform for broader grievances about governance and accountability.

The unrest puts renewed attention on Albania’s political stability as the country pursues membership of the European Union. The demonstrations do not establish the government’s immediate fate, but the growing coalition of protesters and repeated confrontations with police show how concerns over education, employment, living costs and corruption have converged into a sustained challenge to the country’s leadership.