In brief
In the second day of the Albanian student-led uprising, crowds in Tirana lit fires behind the Ministry of Education and targeted the Prime Minister’s office, the Finance Ministry and the Interior Ministry. Police responded with tear gas and water cannons, arresting sixteen people. The protests, sparked by allegations of corruption linked to a Kushner‑backed luxury resort, reflect widespread frustration over governance and public demand for Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation. Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu called for restraint, while opposition leader Sali Berisha praised the demonstrators’ courage.
Thousands of students have taken to the streets in the Albanian capital of Tirana, attacking several government buildings on the second day of violent anti‑government protests.
The demonstration began outside the ministry of education on Tuesday, as students called for better university conditions and job prospects. The next day saw part of that building set ablaze, while the prime minister’s office, finance and interior ministries, and several surrounding businesses were also attacked.
Riot police clashed with the protesters, using tear gas and water cannons to disperse them. One demonstrator, Enida Bimi, told Reuters the protest is not just for students, but “for all the people of Albania.” She warned that corruption fuels conflict and that the public now demands change.
Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu urged calm, describing the situation as “an act that endangers lives”, and condemned the burning of institutions as unpeaceful. In response, the economy minister, Delina Ibrahimaj, criticized protesters seen in a viral video as they threw rocks and firecrackers at the finance ministry.
Sixteen people were arrested for violent acts during Tuesday’s protest, according to the state‑run news agency. Conversely, opposition leader Sali Berisha praised the students, likening them to lions and commending their courage in an evening meeting.
The surge in protests follows months of the so‑called Flamingo Revolution, calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama. The unrest was initially triggered by a luxury tourism project linked to Trump’s son‑in‑law, Jared Kushner, which added fuel to a long‑standing anger over alleged corruption and a lack of transparency.
