Albanian protests demand Prime Minister Edi Rama's resignation

Protests have been ongoing in Tirana for nearly a month, with thousands of demonstrators gathering nightly to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama and to halt a planned luxury real‑estate development on the Adriatic coast. The demonstrations have spread to Albanian diaspora communities and have been described by German public broadcaster ZDF as calling for Rama’s resignation and greater transparency.

Activist Flora Xhemani Baba has used social media to propose the creation of a “Kuvend Kombëtar Qytetar” (National Citizen Assembly) as a new social institution to represent the protestors, inviting candidates to contact her via WhatsApp. Meanwhile, lawyer Idajet Beqiri claimed the protests are “anti‑Albanian” and alleged that Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti brought mercenaries into Tirana, a charge denied by protest organisers. Analyst Frrok Çupi described the protests as politically orchestrated and warned that Albania faces pressure from states he says support terrorism.

The movement combines street protests, calls for institutional reform, and heated political rhetoric, reflecting deep public dissatisfaction with perceived corruption and the government's development projects.