Albanian leader defies calls to resign as student protesters go on rampage in capital

“This government is corrupt, led and governed by a corrupt prime minister,” said protester lawyer Lulzim Tanushi. “Since Rama came to power, he has abused and ruined people’s lives and that is why people are showing their anger – when they were not heard before.”

The protests follow months of mostly peaceful demonstrations sparked by plans to build the station, which have been the subject of legal challenges.

Villagers told Reuters in July that their land had been wrongly sold for development. Reuters later reported that the man who sold the land was wanted by prosecutors on drug trafficking charges, charges denied by his lawyer.

Reuters found no evidence of wrongdoing by Kushner, who is not directly involved in the conflict between the villagers.

Albania’s image has been tarnished over the years by corruption scandals and political analysts say the country is a hub for gangs seeking to launder money from drug and arms trafficking, complicating its EU membership efforts.

Along with Montenegro, Albania is currently leading the accession process among the Balkan countries and is aiming for membership as early as 2028.

“Corruption must be fought and, as the EU itself recently reaffirmed, Albania is tackling it like never before,” Rama told Reuters.

“Perhaps some forces, at home and abroad, do not want Albania to succeed as a frontrunner in EU membership. But I will not allow violence to derail Albania’s European future.”

A European Union mission to Albania said in a statement on X: “Constructive dialogue is the only way forward. »

The unrest is part of a wave of student activism in Europe. In France, high school students have staged weeks of protests and school blockades to demand more teachers and better facilities, arguing that deteriorating school buildings and overcrowded classrooms are undermining education.