Albania's 'flamingo revolution' swells into anti-corruption movement targeting PM Rama over Kushner resort
Daily protests in Tirana against a Jared Kushner-backed luxury resort have evolved from environmental opposition into a broad anti-government movement, with demonstrators demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama and the EU warning the project could jeopardise Albania's membership bid.
The spark in the wetlands
Thousands of Albanians marched on the capital Tirana on Wednesday in the largest demonstration yet against a planned luxury resort by Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump. The project, estimated at €5 billion, is slated for the protected Vjosa-Narta lagoon and the former military island of Sazan, a habitat for flamingos, pelicans, seals and sea turtle nesting sites. Protesters held signs reading "Albania is not for sale" and chanted "New Albania" outside Prime Minister Edi Rama's office, with the crowd stretching half a mile down a main boulevard.
The project in Zvernec is a project with no transparency. And this is the apotheosis of what has been happening in Albania for the last 35 years. So today, enough is enough.
From environmental concern to political crisis
The demonstrations, dubbed the "flamingo revolution" after the birds that have become the movement's symbol, began in May when developers erected a fence around land near the village of Zvernec. Small protests escalated after private security guards used violence against activists at the site, with videos of the incident spreading widely on social media. The fence has since been removed, but the protests have only grown, becoming a daily occurrence for more than ten days. Demonstrators now carry inflatable flamingos and cardboard cutouts of the bird, which has become the emblem of a movement targeting the entire political class.
I saw it live myself — that man they dragged away. At that moment I lost all trust. Then I realised we have no state at all.
A test for Edi Rama
Rama, in power since 2013, told Reuters this week the project would go ahead and be completed responsibly. He pointed to the creation of a special prosecution office, SPAK, as evidence of progress against graft. But many Albanians blame him for failing to eradicate corruption or improve basic services. Earlier this year, violent clashes erupted as protesters demanded the resignation of his deputy, Belinda Balluku, over alleged corruption. Rama fired Balluku, but mistrust persists. The Wall Street Journal reports a special prosecutor has now opened an investigation into land sales connected to the development.
Edi Rama has sold the lands of Albanians. The people are all united against these projects, but the prime minister continues to ignore us. That is why we demand his resignation.
Brussels draws a red line
The European Commission has warned that Albania's path to EU membership, which the bloc has said could happen by 2030, is at risk if environmental rules are ignored. EU spokesman Guillaume Mercier said Albania should refrain from actions that could undermine its accession benchmarks and called on authorities to act without delay. The Commission has specifically raised concerns about the strategic-investment framework and recent changes to laws on protected areas that facilitated the Kushner project.
Albania should refrain from action that could undermine the fulfilment of the closing benchmark. We expect the Albanian authorities to act without delay.
A pattern across the Balkans
The Albania controversy follows a similar setback for Kushner in neighbouring Serbia, where plans for a Trump Tower on the bombed-out headquarters of the Yugoslav army command were abandoned after sustained protests. Kushner and his wife Ivanka Trump conceived the Albanian project after visiting the coastline by yacht a few years ago, describing the white beaches and clear blue water as a beautiful canvas. The development would include luxury hotels and 10,000 villas across Sazan Island and the Vjosa delta.
- Developers erect a fence around land near Zvernec village; small protests begin in Tirana.
- Private security uses violence against activists at the construction site; videos go viral on social media.
- The fence is taken down, but daily protests continue and grow in size.
- EU Commission spokesman warns Albania that the project could undermine accession benchmarks.
- Largest demonstration yet: thousands march in Tirana, crowd stretches half a mile down a main boulevard.
Generation Z at the barricades
In a country marked by mass youth emigration, young Albanians are at the forefront of the protests. Demonstrators like 20-year-old Fiona and 25-year-old Alvin describe a generation that has lost fear and found hope in collective action. The movement has united people across traditional divides, with protesters saying they oppose not just Rama but all parties that have governed Albania over the past three decades.
Before, we were afraid and didn't react to injustices. But today, the cup is full, and we are all united. We have hope again that things will change.
