Anti-government protests by school and university students are spreading to an increasing number of cities across Albania, with tensions escalating on Friday as fresh clashes with police, damage to public buildings and injuries were reported.

According to Albanian television network Top Channel, secondary school pupils and university students boycotted classes and took to the streets in seven cities: Lezhë, Shkodër, Burrel, Laç, Elbasan, Korçë and Vlorë.

In several of these areas, the demonstrations were taking place for a second consecutive day, while Laç and Burrel saw their first protest gatherings since the wave of demonstrations began.

The young protesters are voicing their anger over the country’s economic situation and the lack of prospects, while demanding the immediate resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama.

In Korçë, where the demonstrators were mainly secondary school pupils, protesters argued that Albania offered no future for the younger generation, pointing to low wages and insecurity in the labour market.

Schoolgirl Injured in Lezhë as Clashes with Police Erupt

Serious disturbances broke out in Lezhë, where students who had boycotted classes clashed with police forces.

According to Top Channel, a schoolgirl was injured in the face after being struck by a stone thrown by protesters towards police officers. The girl was seen with blood on her face, while tensions in the area remained high.

The clashes began when a group of demonstrators unsuccessfully attempted to enter the town hall.

The protesters subsequently smashed windows at a local secondary school, tore down railings and damaged road signs. Clashes with police followed, with some demonstrators throwing stones at officers.

As tensions escalated, the deputy director of the police directorate responsible for public order instructed officers to withdraw in an effort to prevent further clashes with the young demonstrators.

Socialist Party Offices Attacked in Shkodër

Clashes were also reported in Shkodër, where a group of young people attacked the offices of the governing Socialist Party for the second consecutive day.

According to Top Channel, the demonstrators threw stones at the building’s windows, but police intervention limited the attack.

The incident marked the first outbreak of tension in the city that day, while a small group of teenagers continued marching through the streets. Protesters also blocked a roundabout in Shkodër, disrupting traffic.

It is recalled that the Socialist Party offices had also been attacked on Thursday.

Bins Set on Fire in Elbasan, Detentions in Korçë and Burrel

Tensions also spread to Elbasan, where secondary school pupils were boycotting classes for a second consecutive day. During the protest, demonstrators set rubbish bins on fire, causing disruption in the area.

In Korçë, where young protesters gathered in the city centre to demand Edi Rama’s resignation, police detained several people. Detentions were also made in Burrel following an escalation in tensions.

In Laç, a group of demonstrators damaged the Palace of Culture, smashing the building’s windows.

The spread of protests to cities where no demonstrations had taken place in previous days reflects the widening scope of the unrest, although it remains unclear whether tensions will continue.

Shops Close in Tirana Amid Fears of Further Clashes

In the capital, Tirana, a fresh protest gathering had been scheduled for Friday morning. During the previous three days, demonstrators had assembled outside the Ministry of Education before setting off.

As protesters began gathering along Durrës Street and outside the Ministry of Education, many local business owners pulled down their shutters, fearing further damage.

Business owners appealed to demonstrators not to destroy their property.

One business owner, whose shop had been damaged the previous day, was seen clearing up broken glass and attempting to repair the damage. Speaking to Top Channel, he said he supported the students and their demands but disagreed with violent forms of protest that harmed small businesses.

Rama: ‘These Fires Do Not Belong to the Students’

Meanwhile, Edi Rama visited businesses that had been damaged by fires started by protesters in Tirana the previous evening.

In a Facebook post, the Albanian prime minister expressed his support for the affected business owners, while attributing the incidents to an organised attempt by the opposition to incite violence.

Among the incidents prompting his response was the complete destruction of a kiosk near the prime minister’s office.

“These are the ruins of the life, work, toil, sweat, dreams and hopes of an ordinary family,” Rama said.

He assured the owners who had lost their businesses that the government would stand by them. He also drew a comparison with the devastating earthquake that had struck the country, arguing that Albania had managed to overcome a far greater ordeal at the time.

Edi Rama insisted that the violent incidents had nothing to do with the genuine demands of school and university students.

Rama Alleges ‘Foreign Hands’ Are Seeking to Block Albania’s European Path

In the remainder of his post, Edi Rama linked the incidents to Albania’s domestic political confrontation and the country’s progress towards joining the European Union.

He accused the opposition of being behind the violent protests, arguing that the same forces had, as he put it, repeatedly caused destruction in the country. He also alleged the involvement of foreign actors.