Why are students protesting against the government in Albania?
What began as local anger over a luxury coastal resort has become a student-led push to remove Prime Minister Edi Rama. Protests in Tirana have turned into street battles with police, and on 28 October the government answered with heavy fines for people who stay in violent crowds.
THE SHORT ANSWER
Because many young Albanians say they see no future at home. The student-led protests began in mid-October over poor schools, the cost of living, corruption and the health system, and they demand the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama, who has governed since 2013. They grew out of months of mostly peaceful demonstrations against a luxury coastal resort backed by Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump's son-in-law. Clashes with police have left more than 350 people hurt.
What happened
On Saturday 24 October thousands of people rallied in Tirana, the capital. They gathered around 2pm in front of the education ministry, which has become a focal point of the protests. Some threw stones and rolled burning bins at the building. Riot police answered with tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets. Authorities said more than 300 protesters and police were hurt, and dozens of demonstrators were arrested. Organisers had called on students and others from across the country to attend, and university professors, artists and opposition parties said they would join or support the rally.
On Wednesday 28 October the government adopted emergency measures. Anyone who stays in a crowd carrying out violence or looting, or who hides their identity, can be fined up to 500,000 leks, about 5,500 euros or 6,130 US dollars. Police can also temporarily restrict gatherings near schools, hospitals and government buildings if there is a risk of violence. The rules took effect at once but lapse unless parliament approves them within 45 days.
Rama has blamed "foreign actors" for the violence and accused Russia and Iran of driving online misinformation. The reports do not give evidence for the claim. He has also called for dialogue. On 24 October red cushions were laid outside the government headquarters as a symbol of talks, and protesters later set them on fire. Officials estimate the damage since mid-October at more than two million euros.
Why it matters
The unrest is the biggest challenge yet to Rama, who won a fourth term in 2025. It also puts a spotlight on a country that has lost a large share of its people: more than 1.5 million have left since communism ended, and about 2.3 million remain. Protesters say the same thing in different words, that they want to build a life in Albania rather than elsewhere.
- For students and young people, The movement is built around their wish to stay in Albania. They also face the new fines, which are about six times the average monthly pre-tax salary of 930 euros.
- For Rama's government, It must decide between dialogue and tougher policing. Parliament's vote on the new rules will show how far its own lawmakers back the crackdown.
- For small businesses, Shops and banks have been damaged in the unrest. The new measures promise compensation to small businesses hurt during protests.
- For ordinary protesters, The rules punish people who stay in a crowd that turns violent, even if they did nothing violent themselves. Our reading is that this may keep some people at home.
The background: a young democracy, a long wait for change
Communist rule and its end
Albania's communists took power in 1944. Enver Hoxha ruled the country for four decades and died on 11 April 1985. His successor, Ramiz Alia, softened some of the regime's harshest edges, but the collapse of communism elsewhere in Europe reached Albania last. Many Albanians did not even know that the Berlin Wall had fallen in November 1989.
Student demonstrations in Tirana in December 1990 were part of the end. Protests had already started in January that year in other cities such as Shkodër and Kavajë. In one episode, police crushed a student demonstration at Tirana's Student City dormitories, and Alia later invited a delegation of University of Tirana students to talk. On 11 December 1990 the ruling Party of Labour allowed political pluralism, and the Democratic Party was founded the next day. In March 1992 the Democratic Party won the election and its leader, Sali Berisha, became president.
The 1997 collapse
The 1990s were rough. Albania was moving from a planned economy to a market one, and its weak financial system came to be dominated by pyramid schemes, which pay early investors with money from later ones. The first began in 1991. By the end of 1996 they offered very tempting interest rates, and in January 1997 many of them collapsed.
Students were part of the response. On 20 February 1997 about 50 students at the University of Vlorë began a hunger strike, demanding that the government resign and that invested money be returned. The unrest lasted until August 1997. Sources differ on the toll, but more than 2,000 people are said to have died. An Italian-led international force of about 7,000 soldiers, Operation Alba, arrived in April to restore order. In June 1997 the Socialist Party, the former Communist Party, won the election, and the Democrats lost power.
Rama's long government
The Democratic Party won elections in 2005 and 2009, and Berisha returned as prime minister. Albania joined NATO in 2009. On 23 June 2013 the Socialist Party under Edi Rama won the parliamentary election, and Rama has led the government since. Formal talks to join the European Union began in 2022. In 2025 Rama won a fourth term.
Critics have long raised concerns about corruption and the concentration of power. Albania ranks 91st among 182 countries on Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index. The 2026 World Press Freedom Index, from the group Reporters Without Borders, put it 83rd out of 180. Berisha still leads the Democratic Party, the largest opposition party. Some protesters carry signs against him too, and say the whole political class is to blame.
The coastal resort and the summer protests
Jared Kushner and his wife Ivanka Trump first visited Albania on a private trip in July 2021 and travelled its coastline by yacht. The planned resort that followed is linked to the island of Sazan and to the Zvërnec coastal area. Residents of Zvërnec were not told about the development and learned of it almost entirely from media reports. At the end of April 2026 a company fenced off part of the protected coastal area. On 16 May residents and environmental activists held the first protest at the construction site. Residents of another area, Baks-Rrjoll, had already protested in February against a different tourist resort.
By early June the protests had reached Tirana. Daily demonstrations began around 7pm in Skanderbeg Square and moved to the prime minister's office. Rama rejected calls to cancel the project and said the land had been legally acquired by private owners. On 2 June the Special Structure against Corruption and Organized Crime, known as SPAK, announced a preliminary corruption investigation into how coastal land titles had been processed. The 100th day of daily protests in Tirana came on 8 September. The movement had no leader, and its demand was increasingly Rama's resignation.
October: the students take over
In mid-October a student-led wave began over poor school conditions, the cost of living, corruption and the health system. On 13 October demonstrations turned violent, and the education ministry was attacked. Protesters have since set fire to government buildings and banks, smashed shop windows and pulled up paving stones to throw at police. On 24 October the rally outside the education ministry escalated again after a few calmer days. Four days later the government introduced its fines.
GOOD TO KNOW
More than 1.5 million people have left Albania since the fall of communism, and the country now has about 2.3 million people. A first-year medical student at the rally, Rosela Mira, said: "I want to have a future here."
What do the new protest rules say?
The rules have four parts. First, a fine of up to 500,000 leks for anyone who chooses to remain in a crowd that is committing violence or looting, or who conceals their identity. Second, powers for police to temporarily restrict gatherings near educational, health and government institutions when violence is a risk. Third, sanctions for inciting violence online. Fourth, compensation for small businesses damaged during protests.
Rama said on Sunday that he was inspired by a French bill that would make protesters financially liable for damage caused during street demonstrations. The reports say the French parliament's upper house passed that bill on Wednesday. The Albanian rules took effect at once, but parliament must approve them within 45 days or they lapse.
Who is leading the protests?
Nobody in particular. Reports describe the movement as leaderless. It began peacefully in May and became student-led in October. Organisers issue calls to rally, and groups including professors, artists and opposition parties have joined. One activist, Sidorela Vatnikaj, told AFP: "It's not only a matter of students." Another protester, 28-year-old Daniel Tahiri, said Albanians have woken up.
Timeline: 1944 to today
COMMUNIST RULE
Albania's communists take power, ruling for four decades under Enver Hoxha.
Hoxha dies and Ramiz Alia succeeds him as leader of the Party of Labour.
Student demonstrations in Tirana help end the communist system, and the Party of Labour allows political pluralism.
THE 1990S
The Democratic Party wins the election and Sali Berisha becomes president.
Many pyramid schemes collapse, setting off months of unrest.
About 50 students at the University of Vlorë begin a hunger strike demanding the government's resignation.
The Socialist Party wins early elections and the Democrats lose power.
RAMA IN POWER
Edi Rama's Socialist Party wins the parliamentary election.
THE RESORT PROTESTS
Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump make their first visit to Albania on a private trip.
Albania begins formal negotiations to join the European Union.
Rama wins a fourth term.
A company fences off part of the protected Zvërnec coastal area.
Residents and activists hold the first protest at the Zvërnec construction site.
Rama rejects calls to cancel the project, and SPAK announces a preliminary corruption investigation into coastal land titles.
Daily protests in Tirana reach their 100th day.
THE STUDENT WAVE
A student-led wave of protests turns violent and the education ministry is attacked.
Thousands rally in Tirana, and police fire tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets as more than 300 people are hurt.
The government adopts fines of up to 500,000 leks for people who stay in violent crowds, subject to parliament's approval within 45 days.
What to watch next
- Parliament's vote. The new rules lapse unless parliament approves them within 45 days, so the vote will show how far Rama's own lawmakers back them.
- Size of the crowds. It is not yet clear whether the threat of fines will keep people at home or draw more to the streets, and the reports so far do not say.
- Dialogue or force. Rama has offered dialogue while also blaming foreign actors, and the reports do not say which approach his government will favour.
- Wider support. University professors, artists and opposition parties have already announced support or attendance, and the movement has so far named no leader.
Sources
- The Guardian29 OCT 2026
- 東方網 馬來西亞東方日報29 OCT 2026
- LA NACION28 OCT 2026
- LINE TODAY28 OCT 2026
- Hindustan Times28 OCT 2026
- Al Jazeera24 OCT 2026
- The Straits Times24 OCT 2026
- arabnews.com24 OCT 2026
How this article was made: Implica's editorial system wrote it from the news reports above, with the background drawn from Wikipedia: History of Albania, Fall of communism in Albania, 1997 Albanian civil unrest, Flamingo Revolution.