What changed
Student-led protests in Albania have escalated into clashes with police and attacks on government buildings across Tirana, Durrës, Shkodër, Lezhë, Vlora, Gjirokastër and Korçë.
The movement, which had remained largely peaceful for about 135 days, now includes secondary-school students and has entered a far more violent phase. Protesters cite education fees, book costs and the wider cost of living, while also demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama.
Why it matters
This is no longer a concentrated protest in the capital. It has become a national confrontation, with police using water cannon, tear gas and batons, government buildings set on fire, and dozens of officers hurt.
The shift matters because the original movement had drawn support from people across generations and rejected formal party ties. Its slogans targeted both Rama and opposition leader Sali Berisha, suggesting anger that reaches beyond the usual government-versus-opposition divide.
The immediate pressure on Rama is now twofold: protesters want relief from rising everyday costs, and they are challenging his authority after months of peaceful demonstrations produced no visible change. The protests also began amid anger over corruption allegations involving senior officials and a luxury tourism project linked to Jared Kushner on Albania’s Adriatic coast.
Albania is viewed as a leading candidate for European Union membership, so the violence puts a wider spotlight on how the government handles dissent. The eventual scale and duration of the escalation remain unclear, as does whether political parties are coordinating it.
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