Students Set Ministry on Fire in Violent Tirana Protest

Tirana (GNP): Thousands of students flooded the streets of Albania’s capital on Wednesday, setting fire to part of the education ministry building and attacking other government offices in a second day of violent anti-government protest.

The demonstration began outside the education ministry on Tuesday, where students demanded better conditions at universities and stronger job prospects after graduation. By Wednesday it had grown far larger and more aggressive. Protesters hurled rocks and firecrackers at the ministry gates, and the prime minister’s office, the finance ministry and the interior ministry were also targeted.

Nearby businesses were not spared. A Raiffeisen Bank branch close to the education ministry caught fire, and shopfronts were smashed as rubbish bins were overturned across the area. Riot police answered with tear gas and water cannons to push the crowds back.

Student organisers say the anger goes beyond one campus or one grievance. They point to the cost of higher education, a lack of financial support and uncertain employment prospects. Albanian media reported that the protests spread on Wednesday to universities in Elbasan and Shkodra.

The students’ demands now reach well beyond education. Many protesters accuse the government of Prime Minister Edi Rama of corruption, and they also reject opposition figures as unappealing alternatives. Rama won a fourth term in office in May 2025, but discontent over alleged graft around senior officials has grown since.

Also Read: Albania Student Protest Turns Violent Outside Education Ministry

The street violence follows months of mostly peaceful demonstrations, often described as the Flamingo Revolution. Those protests began over a proposed luxury resort on Albania’s southern coast backed by Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump. The project, which has faced legal disputes, fuelled public anger over transparency and alleged corruption. Albania’s state news agency reported that sixteen people were arrested in connection with violent acts during Tuesday’s protest.

The unrest also mirrors a wider wave of student activism in Europe. In France, high school students have staged weeks of protests and school blockades, demanding more teachers and better facilities.

The government has condemned the violence while defending the right to protest. Opposition leader Sali Berisha, who heads the Democratic Party of Albania, has taken the opposite line and praised the students. Police have urged calm and warned that anyone who burns property or attacks officers will face legal action.

Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu said, “Protesting is a legitimate right, but it cannot be used as an excuse for violence.” One student protester, who gave her name only as Lora, said, “We will not stop until Rama resigns.”