Thousands rally in Tirana over Trump-linked resort in nature reserve
Why it matters: The protests have widened into demands for Prime Minister Edi Rama to quit over alleged corruption and secrecy.
Thousands of demonstrators marched through Tirana on June 20 in one of Albania’s biggest protests in years, denouncing a planned luxury resort tied to Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner in the protected Vjosa-Narta coastal area. The rallies began in late May after fencing and bulldozers appeared at Zvernec beach, about 100 kilometers southwest of the capital, and swelled after clashes between local protesters and private security guards. What started as opposition to the project has broadened into anger over alleged corruption and a lack of transparency, with protesters now demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation. The resort and a separate development on Sazan Island are planned near an important breeding site for migratory birds, including flamingos.