Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama told Reuters on Thursday that he would not resign in response to violent student-led protests, which entered their third consecutive day.
Police used water cannons to disperse protesters who smashed windows and damaged property in the capital, prompting parliament to cancel its session.
The students, who are protesting rising education costs and corruption, have called for Rama’s resignation.
“As for calls for my resignation, governments change through democratic elections. We had elections last year, not a revolution,” Rama said in written responses to Reuters.
“My responsibility is to listen, address legitimate concerns, and keep Albania on the path of progress. Anything else would be a betrayal of the Albanians who gave me a strong mandate to complete negotiations for membership in the European Union,” he said.
Rama said he was willing to discuss rising education costs but added that “attacking institutions, destroying public property and threatening public safety have nothing to do with the legitimate demands of students.”
The protests represent the biggest challenge to Rama so far. He won a fourth term in office last year.
The unrest follows months of largely peaceful demonstrations sparked by plans to build a luxury resort on Albania’s southern coast, a project backed by Jared Kushner, son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, which has faced legal challenges.
“Corruption must be fought and, as the EU itself has recently reaffirmed, Albania is addressing it as never before,” Rama wrote.
“Perhaps some forces, both inside and outside the country, do not want Albania to succeed as a frontrunner for EU membership. But I will not allow violence to obstruct Albania’s European future,” he said.
Alongside Montenegro, Albania is currently among the frontrunners in the EU accession process in the Western Balkans and aims to become a member as early as 2028.
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