Thousands of students have taken to the streets in the Albanian capital of Tirana, attacking several government buildings on the second day of violent anti-government protests.
The demonstration began outside the ministry of education on Tuesday, as students called for better university conditions and job prospects.
Wednesday saw part of the education ministry’s building set on fire, while the prime minister’s office, finance and interior ministry, and several surrounding businesses were also attacked.
Albania’s Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu has called for “calmness, self-restraint and maturity” and said “Albania does not need to burn to change”.
Riot police have clashed with the protesters, using tear gas and water cannons to disperse them.
One demonstrator, Enida Bimi, told Reuters news agency that the protest is not just for the students, but “for all the people of Albania”.
“The people are very angry at the system. They need to change everything. With this corruption all around, the crime and everything else is happening. And the people now are angry. They need to change the system,” Bimi said.
Another protester, Arber Leshi, said people are angry at “the most corrupt government our country has ever seen”.
Education Mirela Kumbaro said that while she respects the right to protest, “civic student protest and violence against public buildings and property are two different things”.
Officials have criticised the behaviour of some protesters.
“Setting fire to an institution is not a peaceful protest. It is an act that endanger’s peoples lives”, said economy minister Delina Ibrahimaj, responding to a video appearing to show protesters throwing rocks at the finance ministry building.
Sixteen people were arrested “in connection with violent acts” during Tuesday’s protest, Albania’s state-run news agency said.
Sali Berisha, the leader of the opposition – the Democratic Party of Albania – has praised the protesters.
“The streets and squares of Tirana have never seen lions like these students,” he said during an evening meeting on Wednesday, Albania’s state-run news agency Ata reported.
This student-led protest comes after months of anti-government protests, known as the Flamingo Revolution, which is calling for Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama to resign.
The protests were sparked by a luxury tourism project linked to Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, which fuelled anger over alleged corruption and a lack of transparency from Rama’s government.
