Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has vowed not to resign as student-led protests entered a third consecutive day, with clashes between demonstrators and police spreading across the capital Tirana and to other cities.
Police deployed teargas and water cannon to disperse crowds marching along several main roads in Tirana. Thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets demanding Rama's resignation, better university conditions, and lower tuition fees.
"As for calls for my resignation, governments are changed through democratic elections. We had elections last year, not a revolution," Rama said in written responses to sources.
"My responsibility is to listen, address legitimate concerns and keep Albania moving forward. The alternative would be a betrayal of the Albanians who gave me a strong mandate to complete negotiations on European Union membership."
Rama said he was willing to discuss the rising cost of education, but drew a clear line. "Attacking institutions, destroying public property and threatening public safety have nothing to do with the legitimate demands of students," he said.
The protests turned violent on Tuesday and Wednesday, when demonstrators smashed their way into several government buildings and set at least one on fire. Police said 51 officers were injured during Wednesday's clashes and 65 people were arrested on suspicion of attacking police officers and damaging public and private property.
Police did not provide figures for the number of protesters injured. Tirana's public hospital reported that seven protesters injured in the violence sought medical treatment.
The unrest represents the biggest challenge yet to Rama, who won a fourth consecutive term in office last year.
The demonstrations follow months of mostly peaceful protests sparked by plans to build a luxury resort on Albania's southern coast, a project backed by Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law, which has faced legal challenges.
Rama also addressed concerns over corruption. "Corruption must be confronted and, as the EU itself has recently reaffirmed, Albania is tackling it as never before," he said. "Perhaps some forces, at home and abroad, do not want Albania to succeed as a forerunner for EU membership. But I will not allow violence to derail Albania's European future."
The European Union's delegation in Tirana called for de-escalation, strongly condemning the "violent escalation at the protest and the destruction of public and private property."
"We call on protesters to exercise restraint and to refrain from any acts of violence. Violence has no place in democracies," the delegation said in a statement.
Albania, along with Montenegro, is among the frontrunners in the EU accession process among Balkan countries and is aiming for membership as early as 2028.
