Lead

Tirana has seen a massive demonstration for the 35th night in a row, with protesters demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama and an end to corruption, according to The Hindu — World. The nightly protests, which began over a luxury coastal resort development linked to U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, have evolved into broader anti-government and anti-corruption rallies.

Coverage comparison

Reports differ on the scale and duration of the protests. Africa News reported on June 11 that thousands gathered in Tirana for a twelfth consecutive day of protests. Al Jazeera, in a June 21 report, said tens of thousands had gathered for the 21st day in a row. The Hindu's July 5 report described the July 4 rally as "massive," noting that media images showed tens of thousands of people marching, though it added that there had been no independent verification of numbers. The same report placed the protests at 35 nights as of July 4.

The protests have focused on a luxury resort project in an environmentally sensitive coastal area, with several reports highlighting concerns about protected wetlands in the Vjosa-Narta area, home to flamingos, seals and sea turtle nesting sites. The project has been linked to Kushner and his wife Ivanka Trump, with Al Jazeera reporting it is tied to Trump's daughter and son-in-law.

Key claims

  • The protests began in late May over plans for a luxury resort linked to Jared Kushner, with demonstrators chanting "Albania is not for sale" and "Edi Rama, resign," as reported by Al Jazeera.
  • The project would sit near key breeding grounds for migratory birds in the Vjosa-Narta protected area, including flamingo flocks, according to Al Jazeera.
  • The project is expected to cost about 5 billion euros, Al Jazeera reported, though The Hindu cited a €1.4 billion figure, and France 24 mentioned a $4 billion project.
  • Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has vowed to press ahead with the project, calling it a major investment opportunity and rejecting claims the government was selling public land, as reported by Al Jazeera.
  • MEPs have warned that EU accession talks could be at risk if the government does not "change course," with Dutch MEP Tineke Strik telling The Guardian that Albania's leadership was "playing with fire" by pursuing the €1.4bn real-estate venture.
  • Protests escalated on several occasions. About 200 protesters tore down fences at a luxury development site on the Adriatic coast, The Guardian reported, and police used tear gas, pepper spray and water cannon to disperse demonstrators outside parliament, leading to 25 detentions, Al Jazeera reported.

Perspectives

Prime Minister Edi Rama's government

Rama has stayed defiant, telling a party meeting he would not step down and arguing the controversy was driven more by Kushner's name and the "shadow of Trump" than by the project itself, Al Jazeera reported. He has sought to play down ecological concerns, saying an environmental impact assessment would be completed and the project would proceed responsibly.

Protesters and environmentalists

Protesters accuse the government of opaque deals along the coast and lack of transparency surrounding foreign-investor designs. Environmentalists oppose the project, saying it would affect pristine beaches and thousands of flamingos, as reported by The Hindu. Ornithologist Ledi Selgjekaj told Reuters, as quoted by Al Jazeera, that more than 1% of the global flamingo population is in Albania and stressed the importance of choosing wisely where to build.

EU lawmakers

Dutch MEP Tineke Strik, leading a European Parliament fact-finding mission, warned that pursuing the project could endanger EU accession talks. She told The Guardian that the project would "wreak havoc on virgin coastline" and criticized the government's trajectory. The European Union has said alignment with European environmental law would be a condition of accession, as reported by Al Jazeera.