Did you know? Albania's parliament filled with smoke from flares. Here's what caused the viral chaos

Videos of MPs lighting smoke flares in the middle of the chamber, red smoke filling the room and people shouting "Rama resign!" are going viral. This isn't a movie. This is Albania's parliament on Thursday, 29 October 2026.

What happened in the chamber?

According to Reuters and Euronews:

• MPs from the Democratic Party, the largest opposition party, set off flares and smoke bombs while the chamber voted on a central bank law.
• They blocked the podium, banged on desks and threw objects including water bottles towards Prime Minister Edi Rama, who attended the vote (WION).
• They held up photos of protesters they say were injured by police, including by rubber bullets.
• Opposition leader Sali Berisha's microphone was cut off while he was speaking and calling ruling-party MPs "criminals".
• Ruling-party MPs carried on with the vote, and 4 opposition MPs were expelled from the chamber (Euronews).

It wasn't the first time this month. On 22 October, opposition MPs confronted Speaker Niko Peleshi, and parliamentary guards had to step in.

Why is this happening? It started with students

Since mid-October, high school and university students have been marching in Tirana, Albania's capital. Their demands (Euronews):

• Lower tuition fees
• More state investment in education
• An end to corruption in the education system

The protests then spread to other cities and grew into a broader anti-government movement, including anger over a lack of jobs. The main demand: Edi Rama should resign (Reuters).

The opposition asked parliament to debate the student protests, but the chamber's leadership rejected the request. That triggered the 22 October scuffle.

Street protests turn violent

Some protests have turned violent. According to Reuters, demonstrators set fire to government buildings and banks, smashed shop windows and threw paving stones at police. Police have used batons, water cannon and tear gas (Euronews).

WION reported more than 350 people injured in street clashes, including many police officers, with dozens detained.

Did you know? This year's wave of protests actually began in May 2026, against a luxury tourism project on Albania's southern coast. The firm behind it was founded by Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law (Euronews). The movement became known as the "Flamingo Revolution", after the flamingos in the wetland there.

What does the government say?

Edi Rama has been in power since 2013 and won a fourth term in 2025. He has vowed not to give in to calls to resign. His government's response (Reuters, WION):

• Fines of up to 500,000 lek (about 5,500 euros) for anyone taking part in a protest that turns violent, even if they don't commit violence themselves
• Calls for dialogue, plus economic measures such as cheaper fuel and more money for poor families
• Blaming "foreign actors", and accusing Russia and Iran of spreading misinformation online

And the opposition?

Sali Berisha's Democratic Party backs the protests and brought photos of the injured into the chamber. But interestingly, according to WION, many protesters criticise both Rama and Berisha. Students want change, not just a different party.

Flares in parliament aren't new either. In December 2025, Democratic Party MPs occupied ministers' seats and set off flares in the chamber (Wikipedia).

What's next?

According to Reuters, this week's protests were mostly peaceful, and another rally is planned for Saturday, 31 October. Whether parliament finally debates the students' demands, or the chaos continues, is still unclear.

What do you think: can student protests like these bring change, or should parliament sort things out first?