Rama says no one can grab Albania by the throat as protesters demand he resign
Edi RamaPrime minister of Albania, in a video message
In a video message recorded at a burned college building, Rama says no one can grab Albania by the throat and that anyone who thinks the law does not apply to them is mistaken.
Responding to
Edi Rama's government has stolen hope from young people and should give way to a caretaker government that prepares early elections.
“No one can grab Albania by the throat. Anyone who thinks the law does not apply to them is mistaken.”
Reporting
Where this statement fits
Albania's student-led protests demand Edi Rama's resignation; Rama refuses and blames his opponents for the violence
Student-led protests in Tirana and other Albanian cities turned into daily clashes with police from October 13, 2026, as high school and university students joined the Flamingo movement, which began in May against a luxury resort plan by Affinity Partners, the investment firm founded by Jared Kushner. Protesters demand that Prime Minister Edi Rama resign over allegations of government corruption, and they want better education and more jobs. Rama has refused to resign, accused his political opponents of encouraging the violence and said the unrest threatens Albania's path to European Union membership. The opposition Democratic Party backs the protests and has called for a caretaker government to prepare early elections.
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
Associated Press report from Tirana on the third straight day of student-led clashes with police, republished in full by WDBO, a Cox Media Group station. It quotes a protest organizer, the national police chief, the education minister, a video message from Prime Minister Edi Rama, a Democratic Party statement and the European Union delegation in Albania.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
The AP reports that Rama greeted cleanup crews on October 15 and issued a video message from a burned-out college building, in which he said Albania would continue on its path to Europe.
After the quotation
The AP reports that Rama directly accused political opponents of inciting the violence and promised to stay on as prime minister to further Albania's bid to join the European Union.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The reference point is the protest movement's demand that Rama resign over allegations of corruption in his government, together with his government's handling of the protests. The quote answers the violence at the protests: Rama says no one can grab Albania by the throat and that anyone who thinks the law does not apply to them is mistaken. In his own words he backs enforcing the law against the unrest and rejects the pressure on his government, which defends his government's handling of the protests.
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More from this case
Read the full caseRama says he and his government are not being challenged, but a path and a mission are
“I am not being challenged, the government is not being challenged, a government majority or a winning party in the elections is not being challenged, but a path is being challenged, a mission is being challenged.”Read statement
Democratic Party calls the protests a revolt against Rama's model of government
Democratic Party of Albania
“It's a revolt against a model of government created by Edi Rama that has stolen hope from young people, violated citizens' trust and is increasingly distancing Albania from its European future.”Read statement
EU delegation notes allegations of excessive police violence and expects proportionate policing
Delegation of the European Union to Albania
“We take note of the allegations of excessive violence by the police against protestors and journalists. We expect police action to be proportionate and respect fundamental rights and expect these cases to be investigated as a matter of priority.”Read statement
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- Rama says no one can grab Albania by the throat as protesters demand he resign
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The Dispute Index. "Rama says no one can grab Albania by the throat as protesters demand he resign". First published: 2026-10-23. Last updated: 2026-10-23. https://disputeindex.com/events/6581-in-a-video-message-recorded-at-a-burned