Thousands protest in Albania for 42nd night over Trump-linked tourism project
- Thousands protest in Tirana for a 42nd night, demanding PM Edi Rama’s resignation over a Trump-linked luxury tourism project.
Thousands of Albanians took to the streets of the capital Tirana on Saturday for the 42nd consecutive night, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama and protesting a luxury tourism project linked to the family of US President Donald Trump.
Demonstrators also voiced opposition to a concert held in Tirana by controversial US rapper Kanye West, who now goes by the name “Ye.” Protesters waved Albanian flags and chanted slogans against both Rama and the rapper, who has faced backlash in several European capitals over antisemitic remarks.
Rama met with West at his office ahead of the concert and later shared footage of the event on social media, praising the performance with a five-star rating.
The exact number of protesters taking part each night is difficult to determine, but AFP reporters said thousands have been joining the demonstrations daily.
The protests are focused on a $4.6 billion luxury hotel and tourism development project connected to the Trump family, planned for the protected natural area of Zvërnec. Opponents say the project threatens the environment and have raised concerns over the legality of the land deals that allowed investors to acquire the site.
The developers also plan to transform the nearby uninhabited island of Sazan, a former secret communist military base, into a high-end tourist destination.
Public anger over corruption allegations has expanded the movement’s demands to include Rama’s resignation. The protests have been dubbed the “Pink Flamingo Revolution” because the protected area is known as a migration destination for the birds.
Several local residents have claimed ownership of parts of the land through decades-old property documents, while Albania’s anti-corruption prosecutors have opened an investigation into the case.
The probe aims to examine how the protected land in Zvërnec was acquired, how ownership was transferred, and why its value reportedly surged from €5.5 million to €122 million within months.
