In brief
Albanian students launched a violent demonstration in Tirana, setting parts of the education ministry on fire and attacking the prime minister’s office, finance and interior ministries. Riot police responded with tear gas and water cannons, arresting 16 protesters. Voices from the crowd, such as Enida Bimi and Arber Leshi, cited widespread corruption and demanded systemic change, while opposition leader Sali Berisha praised the protestors. Officials condemned the destruction, stressing that violence endangers public safety, and highlighted the protests as part of the Flamingo Revolution sparked by a controversial luxury resort plan linked to Jared Kushner.
Thousands of students have taken to the streets in the Albanian capital of Tirana, attacking several government buildings on the second day of violent anti‑government protests.
The demonstration began outside the ministry of education on Tuesday, as students called for better university conditions and job prospects.
Wednesday saw part of the education ministry’s building set on fire, while the prime minister’s office, finance and interior ministries, and several surrounding businesses were also attacked.
Albania’s Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu has called for "calmness, self‑restraint and maturity" and said "Albania does not need to burn to change".
Riot police have clashed with the protesters, using tear gas and water cannons to disperse them.
One demonstrator, Enida Bimi, told Reuters that the protest is not just for the students but "for all the people of Albania".
"The people are very angry at the system. They need to change everything. With this corruption all around, the crime and everything else is happening. And the people now are angry. They need to change the system," Bimi said.
Another protester, Arber Leshi, said people are angry at "the most corrupt government our country has ever seen".
Education Minister Mirela Kumbaro said that while she respects the right to protest, "civic student protest and violence against public buildings and property are two different things".
Officials have criticised the behaviour of some protesters. "Setting fire to an institution is not a peaceful protest. It is an act that endangers people's lives," said economy minister Delina Ibrahimaj, responding to a video appearing to show protesters throwing rocks at the finance ministry building.
Sixteen people were arrested "in connection with violent acts" during Tuesday’s protest, Albania’s state‑run news agency said.
Sali Berisha, the leader of the opposition Democratic Party, praised the protesters. "The streets and squares of Tirana have never seen lions like these students," he said during an evening meeting on Wednesday.
This student‑led protest comes after months of anti‑government protests, known as the Flamingo Revolution, which is calling for Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama to resign.
The protests were sparked by a luxury tourism project linked to Trump’s son‑in‑law Jared Kushner, which fuelled anger over alleged corruption and a lack of transparency from Rama’s government.
