Brief

Albanian police confront student protesters in Tirana for eighth day

Tirana saw another night of clashes as students demanded lower tuition fees and the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama.

By Felo News Desk · Published Wed, 21 Oct 2026 12:34:13 GMT

Police in Tirana deployed tear gas and water cannons on Tuesday, marking the eighth consecutive day of violent anti‑government demonstrations, the New York Post reported.

What happened

High‑school and university students gathered in the city centre, hurling rocks, flares, firebombs and fireworks at officers. Police responded with batons, water cannons and tear‑gas canisters. The clashes continued into the night, with protesters throwing stones and police taking cover behind shields.

What the reports add

The Post noted that the protests are part of a broader anti‑government movement calling for the resignation of Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama and demanding lower tuition fees, greater state investment in education and an end to alleged corruption in the education system. It also linked the unrest to the wider wave of protests across Europe over fuel costs, housing crises and public‑service cuts, citing Reuters.

What was said

Prime Minister Rama told reporters after a meeting with teachers and school representatives that the protests represented “a wave of stones, an attempt to overthrow the government and change those in power through the imposition of violence – something that will never be allowed to happen, in any form or for any reason.” He added that the concerns were “real” but were being hijacked by those causing violence.

How it came about

The current unrest follows months of rallies organized by the Flamingo movement, which originally opposed a luxury tourism project linked to a firm founded by Jared Kushner. The movement’s shift to broader education and cost‑of‑living grievances has intensified the protests, according to the article.

Key facts

Police used tear gas and water cannons in Tirana on Oct. 20, 2026. (nypost.com)
The protests are being led by high‑school and university students demanding lower tuition fees and the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama. (nypost.com)
Prime Minister Rama described the protests as an attempt to overthrow the government and said the concerns are real but being hijacked by violent actors. (nypost.com)