Protests in Albania enter sixth day as Prime Minister rejects demands to step down

Demonstrations in Albania's capital entered a sixth consecutive day on Sunday, October 18, 2026, as Prime Minister Edi Rama refused to step down from office. Protests began on Tuesday, October 13, driven by anger over poor university conditions, high tuition fees, and corruption.

Clashes And Injuries

Hundreds of protesters gathered at noon on Sunday outside the Education Ministry, chanting slogans against the Prime Minister during a tense standoff with police who deployed water cannons and tear gas. City center shops and offices covered doors and windows with metal shutters, while workers removed paving stones to prevent their use as projectiles. Saturday marked the peak of the violence in Tirana, with demonstrators hurling rocks, Molotov cocktails, metal items, and pyrotechnics, setting fire to cars, litter bins, a court, banks, and a post office to form barricades. Police fired rubber bullets for the first time since the demonstrations began, and ambulances rushed to transport the wounded. According to a Sunday morning Ministry of Health report, 65 people were injured during Saturday's clashes—including 37 police officers—and 12 individuals required hospital care. Total injuries since Tuesday reached 272 people, with 169 of them being police officers.

Reactions And Background

Prime Minister Edi Rama released a video broadcast lasting over an hour on Sunday, ruling out his resignation and claiming the protests are driven by an outside hand. Writer and activist Lura Elezi, 38, expressed her reasons for joining the demonstrations, citing a desire for a better life, the rule of law, and an end to crime and corruption. The United States embassy in Tirana responded late Saturday by calling for calm and restraint from all sides. The current unrest follows months of anti-government demonstrations across the Balkan nation that initially started due to a controversial resort development tied to the family of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Context

Public demonstrations often escalate when economic grievances and institutional concerns build up over extended periods. Governments facing intense public pressure frequently respond through security measures and official appeals for calm.