Thousands march in Tirana for 42nd night demanding PM Rama’s resignation and opposing Trump-linked resort amid fury over Kanye West concert

Tens of thousands of Albanians have taken to the streets of Tirana every evening since late May, making Saturday the 42nd consecutive night of demonstrations. The initial trigger, bulldozers and barbed wire appearing at beaches in the protected Zvernec area, has broadened into a wider demand for the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama.

The protests

Protesters waving Albanian flags chanted slogans against Rama and against the rapper Kanye West, whose concert in the capital that evening became a second flashpoint. Rama met West at his office before the show and later posted a video of the encounter. Journalists from Agence France-Presse described “thousands” turning out daily, though no official count has been released. The movement has been dubbed the Flamenco Revolution because the pink flamingos that migrate through the Vjosa-Narta lagoon have become its symbol.

The Kushner-linked resort

At the heart of the anger is a luxury hotel complex planned for the nature reserve of Zvernec on Albania’s southwestern Adriatic coast. The project was first presented in 2024 and is tied to a company of Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, alongside Ivanka Trump. Plans also include transforming the uninhabited island of Sazan, once a secret communist military base, into a glamorous holiday destination. The Vjosa-Narta lagoon is a critical resting spot for migratory birds and flamingos, fuelling environmental opposition.

Kanye West’s concert

West, now performing as “Ye,” has drawn repeated condemnation for antisemitic rhetoric, and his appearances have been banned in several European capitals. The decision to host the concert in Tirana while daily protests were already underway added a second grievance for demonstrators. The premier’s decision to meet West and publicise the meeting deepened the backlash, with crowds directing chants at both the rapper and Rama.

Corruption investigation

Albania’s anti-corruption prosecution office has opened an inquiry into how the land for the resort was acquired, focusing on a transaction that saw the plot’s value rise from 5.5 million euros (6.27 million dollars) to 122 million euros (139 million dollars) within a few months. A Miami-based businessman, wanted in Albania for alleged money laundering tied to narcotics trafficking, is suspected of falsifying the land deeds.

There are reasonable suspicions, based on evidence, that the mentioned assets were acquired through falsified documents.

The case files, reviewed by Reuters, do not bring any accusation of wrongdoing against Kushner himself. Critics accuse the Trump family, including Kushner and Ivanka Trump, of using the presidency for private gain, a charge that has been levelled repeatedly against Kushner’s global investments. The Albanian government says it is seeking to boost the economy through tourism.