Albanian PM blames ‘foreign hands’ for violent protests across country

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama called for calm on Friday, blaming unnamed “foreign hands” for the unrest as protesters demanded his resignation for a fourth consecutive day.

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“These are foreign hands that do not wish for Albania to be at peace,” he said in a Facebook video.

“All of this is the work of the very same hand, the hand that has gripped the Albanian opposition by the throat, the hand that has burned and destroyed Albania more than once.”

Thousands of young protesters took to the streets of Albania’s capital, also demanding education reforms, with some smashing windows and damaging traffic lights.

“The government’s indifference and arrogance since the beginning of our movement have been unbearable and have made the situation worse,” said the high school student, who asked to be identified only by her first name.

Protesters set rubbish bins on fire to block roads and threw stones at police, who responded with tear gas and water cannon.

“We are not criminals. We simply want a better life for our parents and ourselves. We do not want to leave Albania,” 18-year-old Ledia told AFP.

The demonstrations, which began on Tuesday, have since spread beyond Tirana to other Albanian cities, with students boycotting classes amid growing anti-government unrest.

This week’s escalation comes after months of anti-government protests in the Balkan nation, including demonstrations against a luxury tourism project linked to Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner, which has become a symbol of alleged corruption and inequality in Albania.

On Wednesday, the European Union delegation in Albania called for a proportionate response from authorities, expressing concern over “the violent escalation at the protest in Tirana.”

Rama’s Socialist Party won a fourth consecutive election victory last year, with the next parliamentary elections not scheduled until 2029. His government is aiming for Albania to join the European Union by 2028.