Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has rejected calls for his resignation, insisting that ongoing protests pose a threat to the country’s ambition to join the European Union rather than his government.
Rama made the remarks on Sunday as student-led demonstrations continued for a sixth consecutive day amid growing public anger over alleged government corruption, unemployment and poor education standards.
The protests have spread across central Tirana and other cities, with demonstrators demanding Rama’s resignation. Protesters have reportedly set fire to government buildings and banks, smashed shop windows and pulled up paving stones to throw at police officers.
Violence erupted again on Sunday as thousands of demonstrators gathered outside the Education Ministry. Riot police responded with tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets.
The unrest represents the biggest challenge to Rama since he came to power in 2013 and won a fourth term in office last year. It follows months of largely peaceful protests over the summer against a luxury coastal development backed by Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump.
Speaking in a live address on Facebook, Rama dismissed the suggestion that the demonstrations threatened his administration.
“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,” Rama said.
He urged Albanians to consider the country’s future and its ambition to join the EU.
“Albanians need to think very clearly: Do they want this, do they want that, or do they want the EU?” he asked.
EU Condemns Violence as Protests Continue
Before Sunday’s demonstrations began, Rama invited students to talks as excavators removed paving stones from the area outside his office in central Tirana.
However, some residents criticised the move, arguing that removing the paving would make it harder for protesters to defend themselves against the police.
“This will not absolutely stop the protesters. This is just made to remove any way of protection of the protesters from the police. This is just that,” said Elton Prendi, a 40-year-old Tirana resident.
The European Commission condemned the use of violence in Tirana and other Albanian cities while welcoming the authorities’ commitment to protecting people’s right to protest.
Meanwhile, Rama cancelled a meeting with Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker that had been scheduled to take place in Vienna on Monday, according to the Austrian chancellery.
Corruption scandals have damaged Albania’s international image over the years. Analysts have also described the country as a hub for criminal gangs seeking to launder money from drug and weapons trafficking.
Rama, however, has maintained that his administration is tackling corruption more aggressively than previous governments.
Albania and Montenegro are currently leading the group of Balkan countries seeking EU membership, with Albania aiming to join the bloc by 2030.
The Albanian prime minister also blamed unspecified foreign interests for the protests and an alleged attempted drone attack at his office earlier in the 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, while scores of police officers and protesters had been injured.
