Tirana sees sixth day of violent protests as Albania’s PM refuses to resign

What the report says

Violent anti-government protests continued in Tirana, Albania, for a sixth straight day, according to Al Jazeera, as demonstrators pressed Prime Minister Edi Rama to resign and he again refused to do so. Hundreds of people gathered outside the Ministry of Education on Sunday, where tensions escalated between protesters and police.

Al Jazeera reported that police used rubber bullets, water cannons and tear gas to push back the crowd. Shops and public buildings in the city center were protected with shutters, and workers removed paving stones to reduce materials that could be used during clashes. A local journalist told Al Jazeera that neither side appeared ready to back down, with the prime minister and young protesters both described as determined.

Rama, who is serving his fourth term and has been in office since 2013, said in a live social media stream that the unrest was not challenging the government, while also suggesting it could affect Albania’s European Union aspirations. Protesters are demanding better education, more jobs, an end to corruption allegations and Rama’s resignation. Al Jazeera also noted that the government has blamed a “foreign hand” for the unrest.

The Albanian Ministry of Health said 65 people were injured on Sunday morning, including police officers, and that 272 people had been hurt since Tuesday. The protests come amid broader discontent that has been building for months, including earlier demonstrations over a luxury tourism project in southern Albania.