Protesters, police clash in Albania over Trump-linked project
Protesters in Tirana clashed with police and were prevented from reaching parliament during a march over a planned luxury hotel tied to Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, organisers said, marking more than 100 days of demonstrations. Officers repelled crowds who threw eggs, tomatoes and plastic bottles as lawmakers were escorted into the legislature.
Why It Matters
The dispute pits conservationists and local residents against a high-profile foreign-linked development that activists say has already damaged a protected coastal reserve and endangered wildlife, while also escalating into a major political challenge to Albania’s long-governing Socialist Party.
Key Facts
- Duration of protests: More than 100 days (demonstrations marked their 100th day the day before the latest march)
- Location: Tirana, Albania (protesters tried to reach the parliament building)
- Project linked to: Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner (a planned luxury hotel development)
- Protests nickname: Dubbed the "flamingo revolution" for signs showing the pink bird threatened by the coastal plans
- Environmental damage reported: Preliminary work has destroyed coastal nesting sites for birds and loggerhead turtles
Tensions flared in Albania’s capital as police blocked protesters from reaching parliament during a rally against a proposed luxury hotel linked to Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner. Demonstrators, who have been gathering nightly since late May, confronted a police cordon in central Tirana and hurled eggs and tomatoes at officers in riot gear.
The march coincided with parliament resuming after its summer recess and followed a day after the protests marked their 100th consecutive day. Crowds also confronted cars carrying lawmakers, striking vehicles with plastic water bottles before police cleared a path for the legislators to enter the building. Several protesters were detained, though it was not immediately clear whether formal arrests were made.
Known as the "flamingo revolution" for imagery highlighting potential harm to coastal wildlife, the movement began over concerns about the environmental impact of the development. Scientists and activists say initial site work has already caused irreversible damage to a once-pristine stretch of coast, destroying nesting sites used by birds and by loggerhead turtles, which are threatened with extinction. Critics also warn the project could restrict public access to the shoreline.
What started as a campaign against the coastal plan has evolved into a broader challenge to Prime Minister Edi Rama and his Socialist Party, with protesters chanting demands including "Arrest Rama!" Rama remains a strong backer of the investment, arguing the development would help modernise Albania after decades of isolation. Albanian officials have given few details about Jared Kushner’s role in the venture, while Ivanka Trump has publicly described her family’s involvement as an "incredible project."
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