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Tens of thousands of people marched through the streets of Tirana on Saturday in the largest demonstration yet against a luxury resort project linked to the family of US President Donald Trump, as a month-long protest movement gathered momentum.
The rally marked the 35th consecutive day of demonstrations against plans to build a high-end tourism complex associated with Trump’s daughter, Ivanka Trump, and her husband, Jared Kushner, in a protected coastal nature reserve.
What began in late May as a local environmental campaign has evolved into a broader protest against alleged government corruption and a lack of transparency. Demonstrators are now demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama.
The movement, dubbed the “Flamingo Revolution”, takes its name from the pink flamingos that migrate to the protected lagoon near Zvernec, where the resort is planned.
“What began as the ‘Flamingo Revolution’ has sparked widespread public discontent,” protester Alketa Ademi told AFP.
“Lack of transparency, arrogance, enough is enough. The prime minister has to leave,” she said.
Protesters argue that the estimated US$4.6 billion development threatens fragile ecosystems, including a lagoon that serves as an important habitat for migratory birds. The project also includes plans to transform the nearby uninhabited island of Sazan, once a secret communist-era military base, into an upscale tourist destination.
Saturday’s demonstration followed violent clashes outside parliament on Thursday, when protesters attempted to block lawmakers from entering the building.
Police used tear gas, pepper spray and water cannon to disperse demonstrators after some threw stones, eggs and other objects at officers. Authorities said 15 police officers were injured and 25 protesters were detained during the unrest.
The Albanian Helsinki Committee, a leading human rights organisation, expressed concern over the escalation of tensions, saying isolated acts of violence did not justify what it described as the disproportionate use of force by police.
The watchdog alleged officers used tear gas without warning and employed unnecessary force, including batons and punches, against protesters who had already been subdued. It called for a prompt and independent investigation into the police response.
Despite Thursday’s clashes, Saturday’s rally remained largely peaceful as protesters carrying banners reading “Albania is not for sale” and “Revoke law on protected areas” marched along Tirana’s main boulevard towards government headquarters.
Many participants carried giant pink flamingo models, while another group wheeled a mock concrete birthday cake through the crowd to mark Rama’s 62nd birthday.
After the main demonstration ended, several groups marched to a police station demanding the release of 19 protesters still being held following Thursday’s unrest.
Chanting “Free the boys”, some demonstrators threw stones at the station, breaking windows before police dispersed the crowd with water cannon shortly before midnight. The protests have also drawn support from Albanians living abroad.
“We are not against foreign investment. We are for dignity, respect and transparency, and against the current model that is harmful to the public interest,” said Xheku Shena, who travelled from Canada to join the demonstrations.
Although the resort project was first announced in 2024, the latest wave of protests began after construction equipment, including bulldozers and barbed-wire fencing, appeared on beaches in the protected area in late May, galvanising opposition across the country.