The story behind National Youth Day in Albania

Albania is celebrating the Youth Day every 8 December. It is a day remembering the student’s protests in the early years of 1990 against dictatorial regime of Enver Hoxha. Students of what was then the Enver Hoxha University, now the University of Tirana, marched through city streets, demanding reformation of the political system. The march started on 8 December 1990, but the number of protesters reached 3,000 by December 11, forcing the predecessor of Hoxha, Mr Ramiz Alia to meet with the students in order to quiet the unrest. He agreed to take further steps to democratize Albania. This is how begin the long process of replacing the old communist regime with democracy.

8 December was declared as the Youth Day for the first time in 2009 with the proposal of Former Prime Minister that time, Mr Sali Berisha to remember this important day which marked the first movement to overthrow the iron regime of Enver Hoxha.