Albania student protests escalate for 4th day, opposing Kushner resort and demanding PM Rama resign
First seen · Oct 17, 4:04 AM (Seoul) · Last updated · Oct 17, 4:04 AM (Seoul)
Student-led anti-government protests in the Albanian capital Tirana have entered a fourth day and are growing more heated. Protesters are denouncing corruption and neglect of education, opposing a coastal resort project backed by Jared Kushner, and calling for Prime Minister Edi Rama to resign.
What happened
Thousands of young people marched through Tirana on Oct. 16, smashing some windows and traffic lights. The student-led protests are in their fourth day and growing more intense; the day before, protesters broke windows, stormed a bank and clashed with police.
Why it's trending
Students are criticizing official corruption and the neglect of education, and opposing the sale of parts of the southern coast for a resort development backed by Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law. The project would build hotels on the uninhabited island of Sazan and in the protected Vjosa-Narta area, and has been the subject of legal battles.
Reactions
Prime Minister Edi Rama rejected calls to resign on Oct. 15. Parliament canceled its session after protests flared again near the building.
What to watch
The Special Anti-Corruption Structure (SPAK) has said it opened an investigation into how the land titles were acquired and the funds from the sale. With student protests that began in France spreading to Greece and Argentina, attention is on whether the movement will grow further.