Protests in Albania over a luxury resort backed by Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law, are set to intensify after opponents rejected an offer from Prime Minister Edi Rama to discuss solutions. Thousands took to the streets of Tirana for a third consecutive day on Wednesday, some brandishing inflatable flamingos to highlight feared environmental damage. Further protests are planned in southern Albania, where groundwork on the $1.6 billion complex has begun in an environmentally sensitive coastal area.
Conservation groups say work has started in a protected area without proper permits or public consultation. Aleksandr Trajce, executive director of the Protection and Preservation of the Natural Environment in Albania (PPNEA), stated: 'From start to finish there has been a total lack of transparency. We have seen no public consultation or documentation regarding permits.' He called for the removal of bulldozers and fences and the restoration of habitats before any talks.
Prime Minister Rama, who has defended the development as a milestone for Albania's transition from Stalinist state to high-end destination, proposed meeting protesters but insisted: 'There is absolutely no chance that the investment will stop as long as I am here.' The resort, backed by Kushner's Affinity Partners, is planned for an area including the uninhabited island of Sazan and wetlands in a marine national park. The waters are a refuge for the endangered Mediterranean monk seal and over 200 bird species, including flamingos and Dalmatian pelicans.
Workmen have erected a concrete fence topped with barbed wire around the site near Zvërnec and installed private security, while heavy machinery has destroyed ancient dunes and pine forests for access roads. Trajce said: 'That's when locals got really angry. People with land there suddenly couldn't get to it. It's gone beyond being an environmental issue now. It's a citizen thing.'
Albania's special anti-corruption prosecution body, SPAK, has launched an inquiry into controversial legislative changes adopted in 2024 regarding protected areas. Developers, including Sazan Real Estate Development LLC, said: 'Our focus remains on responsible stewardship, environmental enhancement, job creation, and creating long-term value for local communities.' Rama, who won a fourth term on a promise to join the EU by 2030, denies the development will endanger the coastline, stating negotiations are ongoing.
