The Albanian students' protest has received international attention, attracting the attention of Italian media, which have covered recent developments in Tirana and the escalation of protests against the government of Prime Minister Edi Rama. An article published by Italian media describes two days of protests accompanied by tensions, clashes with the police and damage to several public institutions in the capital.
According to the article, the protest began with students, who through calls on social media called for a boycott of classes and gathered in front of the Ministry of Education. Their demands are related to university fees, support for young people and the lack of employment prospects after completing their studies. However, the demonstrations expanded beyond education issues, becoming part of a broader movement against the government of Edi Rama.
Italian media reports that the situation initially escalated near the Ministry of Education, where groups of protesters threw incendiary devices and hard objects at the building and the police. During the clashes, barriers were damaged, trash bins were burned, and flames were reported in several ministry offices. It notes that bank premises and other businesses were also damaged, while fires spread to several areas of central Tirana.
Protests also continued towards other state institutions. According to the description of the Italian media, the protesters damaged the premises of the Ministry of Economy, while the Parliament and the Constitutional Court were also targeted. The article emphasizes that the police intervened with tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowds and restore order. The clashes and reported damages turned the protest into one of the main political and social developments covered by the media.
Beyond the student demands, the article also highlights the dissatisfaction related to a luxury tourist project in southern Albania, linked to Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law. According to the Italian media, the objections to this project, especially regarding the potential environmental impact, are among the elements that have contributed to the expansion of the protest movement. Thus, the protest is presented not only as a reaction to the students' problems, but also as an expression of broader dissatisfaction with government policies.
