Protests in the Albanian capital Tirana are not uncommon, and the opposition Democratic Party (PD) holds them so often that they can even be considered a peculiar tourist attraction, but the protests in early June are different, writes the British broadcaster BBC.
In the protests, which take place in the evenings outside the office of Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, participants not only express dissatisfaction with the socialist government, but also protest against Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump. The anger has been caused by plans to develop a project on the Adriatic coast. One of the investors in the project will be Kushner’s company Affinity Partners, and Rama has welcomed the American’s interest with open arms.
The same cannot be said for the protest participants, who, at least outwardly, have no connection to the opposition. This is clearly demonstrated by the posters carried by some protesters, which both call for the arrest of the PD leader (who is accused of corruption) and demand the arrest of Rama. The protesters’ emblem is a pink flamingo, echoing the use of the yellow duck symbol in the protest movement in Serbia. At the same time, the flamingo also reflects very specific concerns.
Protesters have pointed out that the development plans for Sazan Island and Zvernec pose a danger to a protected species – flamingos – and other wetland inhabitants. Meanwhile, Kouchner’s partner Asher Abehsera said that
the project is designed to be responsible and improve the environment, as well as create jobs
and improve conditions for local communities.
The lack of transparency about the involvement of Affinity Partners – the company’s negotiations with the government began as early as 2024 – has also caused anger, according to protesters. Some protesters have expressed their displeasure over the land being handed over to foreign developers, stressing that Albania is not for sale.
The government insists that the land was privately owned and acquired through a transparent process. Others say the situation is less clear. Albania is notoriously chaotic in terms of property rights, caused by a botched privatization process after the country reversed the general nationalization of property introduced by the communist regime.
However, the environmental aspect is the main motivation for the mostly young protesters. Joni Vorpsi, an ecologist at PPNEA-BirdLife Albania, said he wanted all construction to be halted and heavy machinery to be removed from the protected area. He added that the planned project would be a new city with around 10,000 rooms and would completely destroy the pristine environment.
Rama’s response to the protests was indignant.
The prime minister said the protesters were well-meaning but ill-informed about the potential environmental impact. He insisted the project would benefit Albania, and the four billion euro investment would create jobs and improve infrastructure. At the same time, Rama also described the protests as part of a “hybrid war” sparked by regional envy of Albania’s booming tourism sector. The prime minister said the country was being attacked by “very strong competition,” a reference to Greece, which he blames for stirring up trouble.
For Kushner, the protests could be a sense of “déjà vu.” His plans to build a Trump International hotel in the Serbian capital Belgrade have faced local opposition. The arrest of a government minister for abuse of power in connection with the project forced Kushner to abandon his plans.
Abehsera insists that Albania is doing well, with environmental measures being followed. Meanwhile, protesters are unconvinced by the developer’s words, and pink flamingos may become a regular sight on the streets of Tirana for a while.
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