Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has rejected growing calls for his resignation, telling protesters that governments are changed through democratic elections — not street demonstrations — as student-led protests entered a third consecutive day in Tirana and spread to other cities on October 15, 2026.
In a written statement to the Reuters news agency, Rama said his responsibility was to listen to legitimate concerns and keep Albania moving forward, adding that stepping down would betray the mandate voters gave him last year.
Rama: "We Had Elections Last Year, Not a Revolution"
The prime minister's message to demonstrators was blunt. Asked about the calls for him to step down, Rama replied:
"As for calls for my resignation, governments are changed through democratic elections. We had elections last year, not a revolution."
Rama won a fourth term last year on a campaign centered on Albania's bid to join the European Union, and he has framed the unrest as a threat to that project. He told Reuters that some forces "do not want Albania to succeed as a forerunner for EU membership," adding: "But I will not allow violence to derail Albania's European future." Albania is aiming for EU entry as early as 2028.
At the same time, the prime minister said he was ready to discuss the rising cost of education — one of the students' central demands — while condemning the destruction on the streets.
"Attacking institutions, destroying public property and threatening public safety have nothing to do with the legitimate demands of students."
Third Day of Clashes as Protests Spread Beyond Tirana
The demonstrations, which had remained largely peaceful since June, turned violent this week. On October 15, riot police used water cannons and tear gas against crowds of protesters in the capital for the third day in a row. Tirana's streets were littered with burnt-out rubbish bins, shattered bus stops, and broken traffic lights.
- 65 people arrested on October 14 on suspicion of attacking police officers, institutions, and public and private property, according to police.
- 89 people treated in Tirana hospitals on October 14, including 61 police officers, per the Health Ministry; four officers and two protesters remained hospitalised.
- Parliament cancelled its October 15 sitting as violence erupted nearby.
- Protests spread to universities in smaller cities, including Elbasan and Shkoder, with student boycotts widening the movement.
Protesters circulated an "ultimatum" demanding Rama's resignation by 1pm (11:00 GMT) on October 15. But before the deadline even passed, demonstrators were already clashing with police, building makeshift barricades and setting fire to bins.
In his first public comments since the protests began, Rama posted a video on his Facebook page touring the burnt-out remains of an office at a university campus in Tirana, warning that "everyone is responsible before the law, and everyone who has had a hand in this chaos will certainly pay."
Why Albania's Students Are Angry
The unrest marks the biggest challenge yet to Rama's government. Students are demanding better university conditions, lower education costs, greater financial support, and improved job prospects for graduates. Many protesters also accuse officials of corruption and neglecting education — allegations the government denies.
The movement's roots lie in a summer of largely peaceful demonstrations against plans to sell off parts of Albania's southern coastline for a luxury resort development backed by Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump. Dubbed the "Flamingo Revolution" over concerns about impacts on wildlife and ecosystems, the movement broadened this week as student activists took leadership with demands focused on education and governance.
Watch: Euronews No Comment: violent protests rock Tirana for third straight day — fires burn in central Tirana as student-led demonstrations demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama's resignation continue, with police responding with tear gas and water cannon.
Music in this post's reel: Kevin MacLeod - Lightless Dawn (incompetech.com), licensed under CC BY 3.0
The takeaway: Edi Rama has drawn a clear line — he will talk about education costs, but he will not leave office under street pressure. With protests spreading to new cities and an EU membership bid on the line, whether dialogue follows the ultimatum's collapse will determine what this movement becomes next.