How the protests escalated

Albanians have been demonstrating since late May against Prime Minister Edi Rama, in a movement known as the 'Flamingo Revolution'. It began over a tourism project worth millions of euros, tied to Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, on the protected Zvernec coast. The movement has since broadened into a challenge to Rama's government, which he has led since 2013 and which is now in his fourth term. New demonstrations started in Tirana on Tuesday, 13 October, and secondary school pupils joined the university students, swelling the numbers. Protesters now demand Rama's resignation and complain about tuition fees, conditions at universities and weak job prospects after graduation. Lecture halls stand empty because students are boycotting classes, and the protests have reached Durrës, Shkodër, Korçë and Vlora.

Clashes and damage

Masked protesters threw stones at police, who responded with water cannon, tear gas and batons. Demonstrators piled up and set fire to rubbish bins to block the streets. According to SIC Notícias, the education, justice and finance ministries were set alight on Thursday, 15 October, which led to parliament cancelling its sitting that day. An AFP journalist saw masked groups smash shop windows and loot stores. Police said 71 officers were injured, while SIC Notícias reported more than two dozen students hurt as well. La Libre reported that the entrance to the finance ministry burned and that windows at a university complex were broken.

Arrests and conflicting counts

Police said 160 protesters were arrested on Thursday evening, 15 October, for committing acts of violence. DW reported a different tally, with 152 people arrested and 324 under investigation across the three days of protests. The two sets of figures are not reconciled in the reports, and they cover different periods and scopes. Among the injured, most of those hurt in the clashes since Tuesday were police officers, according to the authorities.

Rama's response

Rama stayed silent during the first two days of the protests. On Thursday morning, 15 October, at 8:03 a.m., he released a video filmed in the damaged College of Europe building, close to his office. In it he blamed the opposition for hiding behind masked people who want to drag Albania back to a past it would never return to. On Friday, 16 October, in a video posted on his Facebook page, he said the protests had nothing to do with hardship or the legitimate wish for a better life. He also said foreign hands were stirring the unrest to block Albania's EU membership bid, without naming anyone or offering evidence. Rama added that the violence was not the work of students and that they were welcome to discuss solutions.

Corruption and the political backdrop

Public anger is growing as corruption allegations against ministers and senior officials multiply. According to BBC, one deputy prime minister has fled the country, and another has been ordered to step down while investigations continue. The Flamingo protesters say they have no links to any political party. Their slogans include 'Rama in jail, Berisha in jail', a reference to opposition leader Sali Berisha, a former prime minister and president. Students say they will not negotiate their other demands with the prime minister and want the government to step down.