Rama shared footage on social media of a stone table set up outside the prime minister’s office, bearing the inscription “Dialogue”, as a sign of the government’s willingness to consider their proposals and address the concerns they have raised.

Protesters have so far rejected the prime minister’s invitation, demanding his resignation and vowing to continue their demonstrations.

Classes have resumed as normal at several public universities in Tirana, including the University of Medicine, the Polytechnic University, the Faculty of Law, the Faculty of History and Philology, and the Faculty of Economics.

The decision to return to classrooms was taken by students themselves through discussions in their group chats, with some arguing that every missed class was detrimental to their education.

The protests, however, have exposed divisions among students. While some have returned to classes, ending a boycott that lasted around two weeks, others continue to stage actions aimed at disrupting teaching and mobilising fellow students to join the demonstrations.

Rama, meanwhile, has said he is ready to consider any proposals put forward by students and university staff, adding that the government is preparing a package of measures to address their concerns.

He also said the 2027 state budget included additional measures to support families, public services and students.

Separately, the government has adopted a legislative package aimed at tackling urban violence, introducing tougher penalties for those involved in violent acts.

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Speaking at a press conference at the party’s headquarters, Berisha called on Democratic Party supporters and citizens across Albania to join the rally, scheduled to begin at noon 12:00.

He said the student protests had become a source of hope for Albanians and had attracted widespread support both at home and abroad.

“I am calling on Democrats and all citizens across Albania to take part in Saturday’s protest at 12:00, in support of the student uprising, in what I believe will be the strongest protest the country has ever seen,” Berisha said.

“The student and high school protests in Tirana have become a great source of hope for all Albanians. Saturday is an opportunity for every Albanian to stand alongside them, alongside the sons and daughters of this country, who are showing the courage to do what every citizen should do. The students and high school pupils have won extraordinary national and international support,” he added.

The Democratic Party leader also urged citizens of all political persuasions to join the demonstration, saying that Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation was the common objective of the movement.

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The rally was proceeding peacefully, with university lecturers and civil society representatives also taking part.

Earlier in the day, protesters gathered near parliament, where police had cordoned off the perimeter with metal barriers. They later marched towards the Ministry of Education on Durres Street, with no incidents of violence reported during the march.

Students and other citizens have been staging protests outside the Education Ministry and the prime minister’s office for 17 days, demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation.

Previous demonstrations have seen violent incidents and clashes with police, while Rama has repeatedly invited students to engage in dialogue.

The students have continued to reject his calls for talks, insisting that he step down.

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Asked at a news conference whether the opposition would support the protest announced by young people, Berisha said the party would offer its full backing.

“Fully and forcefully. The Democratic Party is calling a nationwide protest in support of the students,” he said, adding that the party was committed to supporting and defending their cause.

Berisha urged Tirana residents to join what he described as a revolt of exceptional importance for the country’s future, saying Albanians from the diaspora were also expected to attend.

He condemned what he called violence and pressure against people taking part in peaceful protests, accusing police of violating the law and the Constitution.

“I strongly condemn the terror and unconstitutional violence that police stations are inflicting on citizens in cities and elsewhere, in violation of all laws, because of their participation in peaceful protests,” he said.

Berisha also said the students’ cause had received international support, thanking U.S. lawmakers, members of the European Parliament, German Bundestag representatives and international organisations that had spoken out on the issue.

He named U.S. Representatives Joe Wilson, Robert Aderholt and Keith Self, as well as Senators Chris Murphy and Elissa Slotkin, praising their statements in support of the students and their demands.

On Democratic Party lawmakers’ participation in parliamentary committee meetings, Berisha said the decision to attend and then leave after making statements had been taken by the parliamentary group to condemn violence against students and express support for their protest.

Asked about the opposition’s position during discussions on the fiscal package and the 2027 state budget, he said further decisions would be announced later.

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Speaking at a news conference, Berisha said Democratic Party lawmakers would attend parliamentary committee meetings to deliver a statement before leaving.

“There can be no parliament under these conditions,” he said.

Berisha said the opposition would focus on mobilising its structures to support the student protests on a daily basis and organise nationwide demonstrations in their support.

He accused Prime Minister Edi Rama of maintaining same approach and response to protests, saying the government’s approach would fail.

Berisha also condemned police actions against protesters and threatened legal consequences for officers he accused of committing abuses. He described officers involved in the alleged acts as “narco-mercenaries” and said they would face punishment for serious crimes.

On electoral reform, Berisha reiterated his support for fully open candidate lists, saying his party had also backed a proposal for 100% open lists put forward during consultations by another opposition party led by Adriatik Lapaj.

Asked whether the opposition would challenge the government’s proposed measures before Albania’s Constitutional Court, Berisha said it would take the matter to the court, while expressing distrust in the institution.

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Lecturers and students first gathered outside the Polytechnic University of Tirana, where Aleksandër Kovaçi, head of the university lecturers’ union, told reporters that the movement reflected growing international awareness among Albania’s intellectual community.

“We need to work together more closely for such an important cause,” he said.

“We are the university lecturers’ union, and our focus is on students. We are here to put an end to diktats in universities. We will join the students’ protest. Wherever they are, we will be there too,” Kovaçi added.

A group of medical students wearing white coats and surgical masks also joined today’s protest outside the government headquarters.

“Join us” and “United students will win” were among the slogans chanted by the young protesters as they marched through the streets of Tirana.

The University Workers’ Union continues to support the students, who have been protesting in the capital for 11 days against the political establishment and demanding better education and living conditions.

Ermal Pashaj, a doctor and university lecturer, said the signatories – including doctors, dentists, pharmacists and other healthcare workers – stood with students in defence of life, dignity and Albania’s future.

“We cannot remain silent in the face of violence against young people and violations of their right to peaceful protest,” Pashaj said, condemning violence against students and those providing first aid to the injured.

The group called for the immediate resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama, describing it as an act of political accountability for the crisis and its escalation. It also demanded the formation of a technocratic transitional government to enable a peaceful resolution, restore the functioning of institutions and rebuild public trust.

Gentian Stroni, head of the doctors’ union, said the students’ demands were legitimate and deserved support, while calling on both protesters and police to exercise restraint.

“We do not want physical violence. We want to support the students and ensure they are not attacked. We do not want to be putting the bones of Albanians back together, whether they are students or police officers. Both sides must show restraint,” he said.

Aleksandër Biberaj, a university lecturer and former lawmaker who attended the protest, said their demand was non-negotiable: the prime minister must resign unconditionally.

Students, lecturers and citizens have been protesting in Tirana for 11 days against the current political establishment, demanding Rama’s resignation and better education and living conditions.

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Lecturers and students first gathered outside the Polytechnic University of Tirana, where Aleksandër Kovaçi, head of the university lecturers’ union, told reporters that the movement reflected growing international awareness among Albania’s intellectual community.

“We need to work together more closely for such an important cause,” he said.

“We are the university lecturers’ union, and our focus is on students. We are here to put an end to diktats in universities. We will join the students’ protest. Wherever they are, we will be there too,” Kovaçi added.

A group of medical students wearing white coats and surgical masks also joined today’s protest outside the government headquarters.

“Join us” and “United students will win” were among the slogans chanted by the young protesters as they marched through the streets of Tirana.

The University Workers’ Union continues to support the students, who have been protesting in the capital for 11 days against the political establishment and demanding better education and living conditions.

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In a video message to the public, Berisha accused Prime Minister Edi Rama of using police violence against protesters, claiming that more than 2,000 young people, including high school students, university students and minors, had been assaulted, detained or arrested during the demonstrations.

The opposition leader described the situation as a return of “red terror” and said protests by lecturers and professors in support of students had undermined the government’s strategy of intimidating demonstrators.

“This message is addressed to every Albanian: for a week, Tirana has been experiencing the red terror that Albania had not known since the dark days of the communist regime. For a week, Albanian children, minors, high school pupils and university students have been brutally assaulted by groups of uniformed narco-criminals,” Berisha said.

He added that rubber batons, tear gas and rubber bullets had been used against students, high school pupils, journalists and other citizens.

“This message is addressed to every Albanian: for a week, Tirana has been experiencing the red terror that Albania had not known since the dark days of the communist regime. For a week, Albanian children, minors, high school pupils and university students have been brutally assaulted by groups of uniformed narco-criminals,” Berisha said.

He added that rubber batons, tear gas and rubber bullets had been used against students, high school pupils, journalists and other citizens.

“For a week, more than 2,000 girls and boys, high school pupils, minors and university students have been brutally assaulted, detained or arrested and have filled the country’s detention facilities, from the notorious Burrel prison to the prison in Berat,” he said.

Berisha also accused Rama of using repressive measures to remain in power and criticised the €2,500 bonus awarded to police officers.

“To save his own skin, Edi Rama yesterday unveiled his criminal platform of red terror, relying on mercenaries, serial killers paid 2,500 euros, mercenaries and serial killers brought in from abroad, and the tools of technological terror,” the opposition leader said.

According to Berisha, the lecturers’ and professors’ protests in support of students had shown that young people were not backing down under pressure.

Berisha called on citizens of all political persuasions, as well as those not politically engaged, to overcome their fear and join the young protesters.

The Democratic Party leader urged citizens to gather outside the university at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, concluding his message with the appeal: “Everyone with the young people, everyone with them tomorrow at 10 a.m. outside the university, until victory.”

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Speaking to the media, Berisha said high school and university students in the capital needed the support of Albanians more than ever.

Since October 13, he said, police officers had subjected university students and high school pupils to what he described as brutal treatment, alleging that hundreds had been mistreated, detained or arrested.

Berisha claimed that police stations had been filled with minors, women and older citizens, adding that Tirana had not witnessed such treatment of young people even during the 1990s.

The opposition leader urged Democratic Party supporters, citizens, parents and businesses to join the students at Saturday’s planned demonstration.

“Tomorrow, thousands upon thousands of men, women, boys and girls from across Europe will head to Tirana,” Berisha said, calling on Albanians to stand together in support of the students.

He described public solidarity with the young protesters as crucial, saying the moment called on every Albanian to gather in the capital.

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Speaking at a news conference, Berisha described the student demonstrations as a liberating revolt for Albania and condemned what he said was violence against protesters.

“Students across Albania are taking part in the strongest student protest the country has ever seen. Tens of thousands of high school students have joined them, demanding Rama’s immediate departure and resignation. He has set fire to the dreams of more than 47% of Albanians who were forced to leave the country because of poverty and deprivation. He has crushed the hopes of a nation that wants to see its country succeed,” Berisha said.

He urged teachers, university lecturers, businesses, doctors and nurses to join the students, saying indifference to the protests was the worst possible choice.

“I call on all pupils and high school students across Albania to boycott classes and stay away from school to save their most cherished dreams and protect their future. I call on teachers and university lecturers to stand with their pupils and students and remember that the first lesson, the foremost principle of their mission, is that they must stand by them under all circumstances,” Berisha said.

Berisha also accused Rama of abuse of power, corruption and impoverishing Albanians, saying the demand for his resignation was an ultimatum.

He also warned that attempts to intimidate students and pupils would not go unpunished.

Asked about Rama’s statement to Reuters that he would not step down and about the risk of destabilisation, Berisha said the prime minister had lost his battles and warned him against using the police as “cannon fodder”.

Berisha concluded by calling on “State Police officers not involved in crime or drug-related activities to resign” and urging police across the country not to intervene against student protesters.

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