Albania’s prime minister has said he will not resign despite days of protest and growing unrest, warning that the escalating violence is threatening the country’s chances of joining the European Union.
The student-led demonstrations continued on Sunday for a sixth consecutive day as anger over high tuition fees, poor education facilities, high levels of unemployment and alleged corruption within Edi Rama’s government erupted.
The protest movement was initially prompted by a proposal by the US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner to build a luxury resort. It has engulfed central Tirana and spread to other major cities in the past week, including Durres and Shkoder.
Protests were initially prompted by a proposal by the US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner to build a luxury resort. Pic: Reuters
Protesters set fire to government buildings, banks and cars and threw stones at riot police, demanding Rama step down as leader. Paving stones and bollards have been pulled up to block roads and throw at police.
In a live address on Facebook, Rama said: “I am not being challenged, the government is not being challenged, a government majority or a winning party in the elections is not being challenged but a path is being challenged, a mission is being challenged.”
He urged demonstrators to “think clearly” about what they want, suggesting the protests could scupper the country’s hopes of becoming a European Union member.
“Albanians need to think very clearly: Do they want this, do they want that, or do they want the EU?”
Demonstrators are frustrated about high tuition fees, poor education facilities, jobs and alleged corruption within Edi Rama’s government. Pic: Reuters
The unrest follows a summer of largely peaceful protests, and represents Rama’s biggest challenge as leader since his socialist party came to power in 2013.
In response to the violence over the past week, the police have responded with tear gas, water cannons and baton charges to scatter crowds as they pushed against security lines.
PM Edi Rama said anti-government protest could jeopardise Albania’s bid for EU membership. Pic: Reuters
Many of the protesters in central Tirana wore gas and face masks, while others handed out syringes of saline water to reduce the pain from the tear gas.
Plans for the luxury development at Narta Lagoon on Albania’s Adriatic coast have faced strong opposition from environmental groups, who say the project could threaten habitats used by protected migratory birds, including flamingos.
Albania’s government says the resort would be transformational for the country, though some critics believed it would only benefit the elite.
Protests were initially prompted by a proposal by the US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner to build a luxury resort. Pic: Reuters
Rama rejected claims that his socialist government is corrupt. Pic: Reuters
It argued the €4bn (€3.37bn) investment for the Trump family-backed resort would create jobs and boost the tourism industry in Albania, subsequently boosting the economy. It would be one of the biggest investment the nation has seen.
This latest wave of protests, fronted by students, comes after months of anti-government protests, known as the Flamingo Revolution, which called for Rama to resign over allegations of corruption among government officials.
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Rama rejected these claims, arguing his government is dedicated to weeding out corruption. He instead blamed unspecified foreign interference for the protests and for an attempted drone attack at his office this week.
“God knows what the consequences will be. There are no young people, no students, and no minors who would even think of implementing this plan. This is a foreign hand,” he said.
Police said 388 people had been charged with criminal offences during the demonstrations, with scores of police officers and protesters injured.
