Tens of Thousands Clash With Police Over $4.6 Billion Trump-Linked Albania Resort
Updated
Updated · Euronews · Jul 5
Tens of Thousands Clash With Police Over $4.6 Billion Trump-Linked Albania Resort
3 articles · Updated · Euronews · Jul 5
Summary
Tens of thousands marched in Tirana for a 35th straight day, with a breakaway group smashing police-station windows before officers used tear gas and water cannons.
The protests were triggered by a $4.6 billion luxury resort tied to Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner in the protected Zvërnec area, after fencing and excavators appeared on nearby beaches in late May.
What began as an environmental campaign has widened into an anti-government movement demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama's resignation over alleged corruption, secrecy and a law easing resort approvals in protected areas.
Nineteen detained protesters were being held after Thursday's march; in earlier clashes, authorities said 15 police officers were injured and 25 protesters were detained.
The Albanian Helsinki Committee condemned what it called disproportionate force and sought an independent investigation, underscoring how the 'Pink Flamingo Revolution' has become a broader political test for Rama.
Flamingos versus a billion-dollar resort: can Albania protect Europe's last wild river from powerful investors?
With a major project flouting EU standards, is Albania's 2030 accession goal now in jeopardy?
From Lagoon to Parliament: The 2026 Flamingo Revolution and Albania’s Struggle Against Corruption and Environmental Destruction
Overview
The "Flamingo Revolution" began on May 23, 2026, in Zvërnec, Albania, as local residents protested a controversial development project on protected land. As the movement grew, demonstrators carried banners demanding the repeal of laws that enabled the project and insisted their voices be heard in parliament, frustrated by the prime minister’s ongoing disregard. The protests escalated, leading to an anti-corruption investigation into the project’s approval process. This combined pressure resulted in a halt to construction and removal of barriers at the site, marking a significant victory for the protesters and highlighting widespread demands for transparency and accountability in Albania.