Tens of thousands of demonstrators filled the streets of Albania’s capital on Saturday in what appeared to be the largest protest since opposition emerged nearly three weeks ago against a proposed luxury resort connected to the family of US President Donald Trump.
Daily demonstrations have been taking place since late May, fueled by public anger over plans to build a high-end hotel associated with Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner in a protected coastal nature reserve.
What began as opposition to the development has expanded into a broader movement targeting alleged government corruption and demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama.
While authorities did not release official attendance figures, journalists from Agence France-Presse reported that Saturday’s turnout was the biggest seen since the protests began. The rally drew significant support from members of the Albanian diaspora who returned to the country to participate.
Crowds carrying Albanian and American flags marched through Tirana as red balloons were released overhead. Protesters vowed to continue demonstrating until Rama steps down from office. During the march, the slogan “Albania is not for sale” was projected onto the prime minister’s office building.
Critics accuse Rama’s administration of failing to provide sufficient transparency regarding large-scale tourism developments planned along Albania’s coastline. “We are not against the country’s development; we are against the arrogance and lack of transparency surrounding projects that affect our lives,” said one protester, Alma, a student at the Faculty of Science.
Despite mounting pressure, Rama maintained his position and ruled out resigning. Speaking at a party gathering earlier on Saturday, he argued that public outrage was driven more by Kushner’s involvement than by the project itself.
“The world did not wake up from the fate of Narta, but from the name of Kushner and the shadow of Trump,” he said.
The protest movement gained momentum after barbed-wire fencing and construction equipment appeared on a previously quiet beach in Zvernec, located within the protected Vjosa-Narta area, roughly 100 kilometers southwest of Tirana.
Public anger intensified following confrontations between local residents and private security personnel at the proposed hotel site. The clashes quickly attracted national attention and significantly increased participation in demonstrations.
The planned Kushner-backed resort, together with another proposed development on nearby Sazan Island, would be located close to an important migratory bird habitat that hosts hundreds of flamingos and other species.
Environmental experts have also voiced concern over the potential impact of the projects. “The Vjosa-Narta landscape, including the Zvernec region, is one of Albania’s most valuable natural ecosystems, and its importance extends far beyond the country’s borders,” Olsi Nika, a biologist and aquatic ecologist, said at the protest.
