Thousands of Albanians rally against Trump-linked luxury resort project

Thousands of protesters marched through Albania’s capital, Tirana, on Saturday, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama and opposing a controversial Trump family-linked luxury tourism project, marking the 42nd consecutive night of demonstrations.

The protesters also voiced opposition to a concert by controversial US rapper Kanye West, who now goes by “Ye.” His performances have been banned in some European capitals over his antisemitic remarks. Demonstrators carrying Albanian flags chanted slogans against both Rama and the rapper.

Rama met Ye at his office before the concert and later shared videos of the packed event on social media, giving it a five-star rating.

At the heart of the protests is a proposed $4.6-billion luxury hotel and tourism development linked to US President Donald Trump’s family. The project is planned in the environmentally protected Zvernec area on Albania’s Adriatic coast, raising concerns over potential damage to a lagoon that serves as a vital habitat for migratory birds.

Developers also aim to transform the uninhabited island of Sazan, a former communist-era military base, into a high-end tourist destination.

The movement, dubbed the “Flamingo Revolution,” takes its name from the flamingos that migrate to the nearby nature reserve. Many demonstrators carry plastic flamingos as a symbol of their campaign.

Beyond environmental concerns, the protests have become a broader expression of anger over alleged corruption and lack of transparency surrounding the project. Critics have questioned the legality of land acquisitions linked to the development, while several local residents claim ownership based on decades-old property deeds.

Albania’s Special Anti-Corruption Structure (SPAK) has launched an investigation into how land in the protected Zvernec area was acquired and transferred, and why its estimated value reportedly surged from €5.5 million to €122 million within just a few months. Authorities are examining whether the transactions complied with legal and regulatory requirements.