Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama refused calls to resign as violent protests entered their sixth consecutive day in the capital, Tirana. The demonstrations, which began on Tuesday, have centered on demands for improvements in university conditions, opposition to high tuition fees, and allegations of government corruption.

On Monday, hundreds of protesters once again assembled in front of the Education Ministry around midday, chanting slogans urging Rama to step down. The gathering quickly escalated into confrontations with police, who deployed water cannons and tear gas in attempts to disperse the crowd. Following the initial dispersal, unrest spread across Tirana’s city center, resulting in extended clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement.

Rioters set fire to rubbish bins, smashed windows—including at the Socialist Party headquarters—and ignited fires at a police station and at the entrance to the Interior Ministry. The disturbances spread to the main boulevard and nearby squares, where protesters threw rocks, Molotov cocktails, and pyrotechnic devices. Police countered with tear gas and rubber bullets. Ambulances were seen frequently transporting injured individuals amid the unrest.

The Ministry of Health reported that 16 police officers were injured during the clashes, 14 of whom were hurt when the police station came under attack. In preparation for the protests, businesses and offices in the city center secured their premises with metal shutters, while municipal workers removed paving stones to prevent their use as projectiles.

Despite the sustained demonstrations and escalating violence, Rama has maintained his position, rejecting demands for his resignation amid ongoing public discontent over education and governance issues. The protests reflect deep-seated frustrations with Albania’s higher education system and broader concerns regarding corruption within the government.