Reuters: Rama defies calls to resign! Student concerns went unheard during summer protests

International media continue to report on the situation in Albania amid the student protests. In a recent article, the Reuters news agency writes that “Albania’s leader defies calls to resign.”

“Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama on Thursday rejected calls to resign as thousands of protesters led by students smashed windows and clashed with police, who used water cannons and tear gas in the capital,” the agency writes.

The article goes on to say that demonstrators accuse officials of corruption and neglect in education, and say they are angry about the sale of parts of Albania’s southern coastline.

“The streets of Tirana were strewn with burned trash bins, wrecked bus stops and damaged traffic lights. Police fired tear gas, stun grenades and water cannons at rock-throwing protesters, who set fire to a kiosk, erected barricades and ransacked a bank,” Reuters reports.

Protesters are calling for Rama to resign, saying no one had listened to their concerns during a summer of largely peaceful protests over development.

Rama, whose government denies corruption, said he would be willing to discuss the rising cost of education, but rejected calls to resign.

“My responsibility is to listen, address legitimate concerns and help Albania move forward,” he said in a written statement to Reuters.