Protests Erupt in Albania Over Kushner-Backed Luxury Resort Development

While demonstrations in the heart of Tirana are commonplace, with the opposition Democratic Party (PD) holding rallies so frequently they border on being a regular tourist attraction, the recent nightly gatherings outside Prime Minister Edi Rama’s office have taken a distinct turn. This week’s protests are uniquely directed at both the Socialist Party government and Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump. The catalyst for this unrest is a proposed tourism development along Albania’s Adriatic coastline, in which Kushner’s firm, Affinity Partners, is slated to be an investor—a move Prime Minister Rama has enthusiastically embraced.

However, the demonstrators appear detached from the traditional political opposition. To underscore this independence, some marchers have carried signs demanding the imprisonment of PD leader Sali Berisha, who is currently facing separate corruption allegations, alongside calls for Rama’s removal. The protesters have adopted the pink flamingo as their symbol, a nod to the yellow duck emblem used by a long-standing civic movement in Belgrade, Serbia. In Albania, however, the bird represents a specific ecological grievance. Activists argue that the proposed developments on Sazan Island and at Zvernec, near the coastal town of Vlora, threaten flamingos—a protected species—and other wildlife inhabiting the protected wetlands.

Asher Abehsera, Kushner’s business partner, maintains that the project is dedicated to "responsible stewardship," aiming to enhance the local environment while generating employment and economic value for surrounding communities. Despite these assurances, protesters are vocal about their dissatisfaction with the perceived lack of transparency regarding Affinity Partners’ involvement, noting that negotiations between the company and the government began in 2024. Some banners declare that Albania is "not for sale," expressing anger over the concession of land to foreign developers. While the government asserts that the land is privately owned and acquired through transparent means, critics suggest the process may be more complicated. Albania has a history of ownership disputes arising from the chaotic privatization that followed 45 years of communist nationalization.

Nevertheless, environmental protection remains the primary driver for the largely youthful crowd. "We want all construction to halt and heavy machines out of the protected area," stated Joni Vorpsi, an ecologist with the PPNEA-BirdLife Albania organization. Vorpsi warned that the development, which he described as a new city comprising approximately 10,000 rooms, would "completely destroy that wild region."

Prime Minister Rama has responded to the unrest with visible frustration, labeling the demonstrators as "well-meaning" but "misinformed" regarding the project's environmental implications. He emphasized that the €4bn (£3.5bn) investment would deliver significant advantages to Albania, including job creation and infrastructure upgrades. Simultaneously, Rama characterized the protests as elements of a "hybrid war" driven by regional jealousy over Albania’s booming tourism industry. He claimed the nation is "under attack from very strong competition in our part of the Mediterranean," a comment widely interpreted as a reference to Greece. This tension was further highlighted when Rama publicly rebuked former Greek Prime Minister Aleksis Tsipras, with some protesters accusing Athens of inciting the unrest.

For Kushner, the situation in Albania recalls a previous controversy in the Balkans. His proposal to construct a Trump International Hotel in Belgrade previously faced intense local resistance, ultimately leading to his withdrawal from the project earlier this year after a government minister was arrested for abuse of office. In Albania, Abehsera continues to insist that all operations are legitimate and that environmental preservation measures are in place. "Our focus remains on responsible stewardship, env

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-06-04 14:33:21 UTC