Two separate protests took place in Tirana on Saturday. Students, lecturers and citizens gathered outside the Ministry of Education for the 19th consecutive day, demanding political change, the prime minister’s resignation and better living and education conditions.

Meanwhile, the main opposition party held a rally outside the Prime Minister’s Office. It called for the prime minister’s departure and the formation of a caretaker government. Its supporters later marched towards the Ministry of Education to join the student protest, but some students opposed their participation, arguing that established political parties should not become part of their movement.

Tensions escalated outside the ministry as some demonstrators burned rubbish bins and threw stones, projectiles fired with slingshots and Molotov cocktails at police. Officers responded with water cannon and tear gas. The crowd later moved towards the Prime Minister’s Office, where some masked demonstrators threw stones, other hard objects and Molotov cocktails at police. Officers again deployed water cannon and tear gas.

/a.p./