Flamingo protests in Albania enter second month as thousands demand PM resign over Trump-linked resort
Nearly a month after barbed wire went up on a protected beach, protesters in Tirana continue daily rallies against a luxury resort tied to Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, now demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama.
What sparked the protests
A luxury resort planned for the Zvernec nature reserve, about 150 km southwest of Tirana, first surfaced in 2024 with links to Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump. The project became a flashpoint in late May 2026 when barbed wire fences appeared on beaches inside the protected area. Since then, Albanians have been marching every evening through central Tirana, turning the coastal development into a national political crisis.
Our demands are very clear. The first is the resignation of the prime minister and his government.
The anger stems from the lack of transparency, the lack of accountability, and the arrogance.
Daily marches and the flamingo symbol
No official attendance figures exist, but AFP journalists who have followed every rally report at least several thousand people gathering each evening in the city centre. Demonstrators carry oversized flamingo figures and placards reading “Resign”, a reference to the more than 200 bird species that live in the reserve, including flamingos and the endangered Dalmatian pelican. The movement has been dubbed the Flamingo Revolution.
- Parliament passes law allowing luxury hotels in protected areas.
- Barbed wire appears on beaches at Zvernec nature reserve.
- Daily protests begin in central Tirana.
- Investigations opened against at least 100 demonstrators.
- Thousands march again, marking nearly a month of uninterrupted rallies.
Broader grievances
What began as an environmental cause has ballooned into a wider protest against corruption, rising living costs, healthcare problems, low pensions, and a lack of prospects for young people. Organisers say Albanians from abroad have travelled home to join the demonstrations, now in their fourth week.
The region is home to more than 200 bird species, among them the endangered Dalmatian pelican and flamingos.
Government response and legal pressure
Prime Minister Edi Rama has publicly mocked the protesters. In an interview with the Financial Times, he invited some of them to “go fuck themselves”. Since early June, at least 100 demonstrators have been placed under investigation on charges including obstructing traffic, disturbing public order, and participating in illegal gatherings. The enabling legislation, a February 2024 law that permits luxury hotel construction inside protected areas, remains in force.
An unresolved standoff
The nightly rallies are continuing without a sign of de-escalation. Organisers insist on the government’s resignation, while the authorities are pursuing criminal cases against participants. The resort project itself has yet to break ground, and no formal concession has been revoked.
