Albania protests widen as PM Rama denies Kushner and Trump resort work has started

Protests have continued in Albania for more than two months over plans for luxury coastal developments linked to Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner. The demonstrations, known as the Flamingo revolution, began over a project on or near protected habitats in the Narta area and have spread to Tirana and other parts of the country. They now pose a serious challenge to the authorities.

At the centre of the dispute is Narta, described as one of the most biodiverse and pristine coastal regions in Europe. It is home to endangered monk seals, Dalmatian pelicans and thousands of flamingos. The birds have lent their name and image to the protests. Environmentalists say the area includes more than 2,000 species, more than 200 bird species and 18 priority habitats, making it exceptional for Albania and for Europe.

The development plans cover two linked sites. One is Sazan Island, a state-owned island off the Adriatic coast where the Albanian military has had a presence for decades. It has no water or electricity and is dotted with Cold War bunkers. The other is the largely undeveloped beach area at Zvërnec, home to endangered monk seals and loggerhead turtles. Jared Kushner has set out a vision on Instagram for the beach, including 6,000 hotel rooms and villas, some 10 storeys high, and a marina for 350 yachts.

Work at Zvërnec has already caused controversy. At the end of May, a fence appeared overnight, along with cabins and earth-moving equipment. Protesters attacked the fence. Footage of private guards dragging a protester away helped spark demonstrations across the country. Workers later removed the fence, but it is not clear whether it will return. Local people said the beach had been public before the fence went up, and that tourists, biologists and residents were then unable to get in.

A new road built by the developers in May has stopped for now. Scientists say loggerhead turtles were disturbed in the dunes where they were nesting. Diggers shown in photographs have been removed. A bridge built over the channel connecting the lagoon to the sea blocked the canal during construction and damaged fish, according to the coverage.

The developers sent a statement saying they are working towards creating a world-class destination rooted in thoughtful design and environmental stewardship. They said its future would be determined by Albania and the Albanian people.

Questions over land ownership remain. Albania's anti-corruption authority has accused one of the men who sold the land to the developers of forging title deeds and money laundering. He denies the allegations. Villagers in Zvërnec say the land is theirs. A 90-year-old resident, Eleni, said they have been fighting in court for the last 20 years.

The protests began over environmental concerns but have widened. In recent days, demonstrators have talked more about corruption, about the rich and powerful getting away with breaking the law, and about what they see as dysfunction at the heart of government. They are calling for Prime Minister Edi Rama to resign. Rama has been in office since 2013, has won three terms and is talking about standing for a fourth. A small crowd gathers outside his office every night, building up as the evening wears on.

In an interview, Rama said he had reflected a lot on the protests. He said that for the people it is not about the facts but about higher expectations, and that bringing people onto the street is not a bad thing. He denied that any project had started at Sazan or Zvërnec. When asked about the link between the two sites, he said the idea is connected but that bringing in Sazan is totally unnecessary because there is nothing there yet. On Zvërnec, he insisted that no project has started and described the visible work as adjustments for preliminary work.

The dispute has raised wider questions about who decides Albania's future and who benefits from it. Environmentalists and local residents say protected habitats and public access are at risk. The government and the developers dispute that any full project has begun. The protests continue, and the fate of the flamingo habitat now sits alongside a broader argument about how Albania is governed.