Clashes between participants in student protests and police continue in the Albanian capital. On Thursday, young people threw stones at a police cordon outside the Ministry of Education building. Security forces responded with tear gas and water cannons, and several demonstrators were detained.
The day before, protesters ransacked government buildings, banks, and shops. According to the Ministry of Health, 89 people were injured, including 61 police officers. The clashes have now entered their third consecutive day: the protests began on Tuesday and quickly turned violent.
Students demanding education reform (improved conditions at universities, lower tuition fees, and better employment prospects after graduation) have joined the so-called “flamingo movement.” Its participants are calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama over corruption allegations and opposing an elite resort on the country’s southern coast. The project is linked to Affinity Partners, the investment company of Jared Kushner, son-in-law of Donald Trump. The movement got its name from posters depicting the pink birds: thousands of flamingos inhabit a nature reserve in the area where construction is planned.
On October 15, schoolchildren joined the marches of thousands of people through the center of Tirana. Demonstrators chanted “Rama, resign!” The prime minister rejected the demands for his resignation, saying it was his responsibility to address legitimate concerns and continue Albania’s path toward EU membership. Thursday’s parliamentary session was canceled because of the unrest.
