Albanian prime minister blames foreign influence as protests intensify
Prime Minister Edi Rama called for calm while accusing unnamed foreign actors of fueling anti-government demonstrations that have spread to several cities.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama urged calm on Friday and said unnamed "foreign hands" were behind the latest wave of protests, which have continued for a fourth day. In a Facebook video he said, "These are foreign hands that do not wish for Albania to be at peace."
Thousands of young demonstrators gathered in Tirana, demanding Rama's resignation and education reforms. Some participants smashed windows, damaged traffic lights and set rubbish bins on fire to block roads. Police responded with tear gas and water cannon.
A high-school student, identified only by her first name, said the government's response had been "unbearable" and worsened the situation. An 18-year-old protester named Ledia told AFP, "We are not criminals. We simply want a better life for our parents and ourselves. We do not want to leave Albania."
The unrest, which began on Tuesday, has spread beyond the capital to other Albanian cities, with students boycotting classes. Earlier protests had also targeted a luxury tourism project linked to Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner, a development that critics say symbolizes corruption.
The European Union delegation in Albania called for a proportionate response from authorities and expressed concern over the violent escalation in Tirana. Rama's Socialist Party, which won a fourth consecutive election victory last year, faces its next parliamentary election in 2029, while the government continues its goal of EU accession by 2028.