Thousands of Albanians Demand Rama's Resignation Over €4 Billion Resort Plans
Updated
Updated · DW (English) · Jul 5
Thousands of Albanians Demand Rama's Resignation Over €4 Billion Resort Plans
3 articles · Updated · DW (English) · Jul 5
Summary
Thousands of Albanians have protested daily for more than a month, calling on Prime Minister Edi Rama to quit over luxury resort plans and the fencing off of a previously public stretch of coastline.
The unrest was first driven by development plans in the Vjose-Narta area and on Sazan island, where projects tied to Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners were expected to attract more than €4 billion in investment.
Rama rejects accusations of privatizing public space and says the demonstrations show democratic freedom, while protesters argue his government is favoring foreign investors over citizens and selling off natural assets.
A February 2024 amendment let "strategic investments" and luxury hotels enter protected areas, drawing criticism from environmental activists and an EU warning that Albania's nature conservation has deteriorated.
The dispute has widened into a broader test of Rama's nearly 13-year rule, balancing a tourism boom that he says helped bring 12 million visitors against rising anger over corruption, cronyism and coastal development.
As protests rage over a Kushner-backed resort, will Albania sacrifice its protected coastline and EU ambitions for foreign investment?
Is the 'flamingo revolution' a tipping point in Albania's fight against systemic corruption and the sale of its national treasures?
Albania’s Flamingo Revolution: Protests, Corruption Probe, and EU Pressure Over Controversial $1.4 Billion Resort
Overview
In late May to early July 2026, Albania’s 'Flamingo Revolution' escalated as protests against a controversial luxury resort project turned violent. The project, backed by Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner’s investment firm, plans to build 10,000 hotel rooms and villas on an ecologically sensitive coastline. Environmental groups warn this threatens vital wetlands and flamingo habitats. Demonstrators, frustrated by the government’s lack of response, intensified their protests, demanding action. The movement highlights growing public anger over environmental risks and perceived government unresponsiveness, as Albania faces mounting scrutiny over its development choices and political accountability.