Police used a water cannon in Tirana after protesters broke windows at a police station while demanding the release of people arrested during Thursday’s protest near parliament.
Tens of thousands marched for a 35th straight night, calling for Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation, a temporary replacement government, constitutional reform and an end to corruption, though crowd size was not independently verified.
Saturday’s rally leaned heavily on symbolism: protesters toppled a bust of Rama, sang an ironic birthday song on his 62nd birthday and carried cement “cakes” and pink flamingo balloons.
The nightly demonstrations began over a luxury resort project in a protected coastal area linked to Jared Kushner, but have since broadened into a wider anti-government and anti-corruption movement.
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From Lagoon to Parliament: The 2026 Flamingo Revolution and Albania’s Struggle Against Corruption and Environmental Destruction
Overview
The "Flamingo Revolution" began on May 23, 2026, in Zvërnec, Albania, as local residents protested a controversial development project on protected land. As the movement grew, demonstrators carried banners demanding the repeal of laws that enabled the project and insisted their voices be heard in parliament, frustrated by the prime minister’s ongoing disregard. The protests escalated, leading to an anti-corruption investigation into the project’s approval process. This combined pressure resulted in a halt to construction and removal of barriers at the site, marking a significant victory for the protesters and highlighting widespread demands for transparency and accountability in Albania.