The 12th student protest in Tirana was covered by French media outlet France 24, which reported on rising tensions, clashes with police and public dissatisfaction with corruption and living conditions in Albania.
According to the article, protesters stressed that they are not represented by political parties. Their banners criticized both Prime Minister Edi Rama and opposition leader Sali Berisha.
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Saturday’s rally was marked by fresh clashes between demonstrators and security forces. France 24 reported that police used water cannons, tear gas and rubber bullets, while some protesters threw stones and fireworks at officers.
According to the report, several government buildings were attacked during the protests and dozens of people were detained. Authorities quoted in the article said the number of injured protesters and police officers had exceeded 300.
“There is a lot of anger,” said activist Sidorela Vatnikaj, describing the movement as a “revolution.” She emphasized that its cause is not limited to students or environmental issues, but also concerns the state of rights and the rule of law in Albania.
AFP’s report said thousands of citizens joined the call to attend Saturday’s protest. Groups of university lecturers, artists and opposition parties also voiced support for the rally.
Businesses’ show of solidarity with the protesters was another development highlighted by France 24. Before the protest began, many shops pulled down their shutters, while some displayed messages of support, including “Do not touch. We are with you.”
A few minutes after the rally began outside the Ministry of Education, one of the main protest sites, a group of demonstrators threw stones at the building. An AFP journalist reported that several of its windows had also been damaged in previous days. Police used high-pressure water, tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters.
The French report also addressed young people’s uncertainty about their future in Albania. Rosela Mira, a first-year medical student, told AFP that she wants to build her life in her own country and have the chance of a better future.
“We are here for a reason: we want to stay in our country and not have to dream of a life somewhere else,” she said.
Her sister, a high school student, also raised concerns about education. She spoke of classes with around 40 students and a lack of essential facilities, including laboratories.
Economic hardship is another major source of dissatisfaction. Fabiola Nikaj, a third-year law student, said many young people are forced to work several jobs to support their families, particularly because their parents receive low pensions.
Messages displayed on banners carried by teachers and university lecturers included calls such as “No violence,” “Transparency” and “Democracy in danger.”
France 24 also focused on emigration, reporting that more than 1.5 million people have left Albania since the fall of communism in the 1990s. The country’s population is estimated at around 2.3 million.
The article also noted that Albania ranks 91st among 182 countries in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index.
The French media outlet described the student protest as an expression of broader social discontent. Calls for transparency, justice, better living conditions and future opportunities are accompanied by opposition to the political class.
