Student protests and clashes erupt in Tirana

On Saturday, October 31, 2026, fresh demonstrations broke out in the Albanian capital, Tirana, as groups of students gathered outside the Ministry of Education to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama. The protests escalated into violence when demonstrators set fire to waste bins and threw stones and Molotov cocktails at police forces. Authorities responded by deploying water cannons and tear gas, leading to approximately 30 minutes of direct clashes before the crowd retreated toward the government building due to heavy rainfall.

These events are part of weeks of ongoing political unrest in Albania. While students continue to demand educational reforms, they have officially rejected an invitation for dialogue from Prime Minister Rama. Furthermore, members of the center-right opposition, led by Sali Berisha, attempted to join the student movement during the clashes, though the primary focus remains on the students' calls for government turnover and policy changes. The situation in the city remains tense as mobile protests continue.