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Thousands of Albanians took to the streets of Tirana precocious connected Thursday (June 4, 2026) in the largest protestation this week against a program by a company linked to President Donald Trump’s son-in-law to physique a luxury edifice successful an environmentally delicate area. Jared Kushner’s concern steadfast Affinity Partners is progressive successful the €1.4 cardinal ($1.6 billion) task connected an undeveloped agelong of coastline that lies adjacent the Vjosa-Narta protected area, a wetland location to flamingos, seals and oversea turtle nesting sites successful the south.
Environmentalists oppose the project, which they accidental would impact respective 100 hectares of pristine beaches and thousands of flamingos that nest and walk done adjacent areas each year.
Ornithologist Ledi Selgjekaj said much than 1% of the planetary colonisation of flamingos is successful Albania.
“Of course, it’s precise important to person investments successful the country. It’s precise important for the economy, but you person to take precise wisely where to physique it. There is simply a crushed wherefore this country is called a protected area,” she told Reuters. Groundwork and the accomplishment of dense machinery astatine the tract triggered section protests past week which were followed by ample thoroughfare demonstrations successful Tirana.
“Albania is not for sale”
Some locals rushed to the area to cheque the concern connected Friday (June 5, 2026), arsenic constabulary patrolled, hours aft protesters gathered extracurricular the bureau of Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama, holding pinkish inflatable flamingos and chanting “revolution” and “stop the project”. A placard read: “Edi Rama, resign.”
“Albania is not for sale. Albania belongs to the Albanian radical and we determine what we privation to bash here. It’s not that immoderate corrupt politicians who tally Albania tin determine what they tin bash with our property, with the Albanian heritage, the earthy heritage, a taste heritage,” said Lindita Komani, a writer who joined the protests.
On Friday (June 5, 2026), determination was nary motion of the builders oregon dense machinery that had been preparing the crushed successful caller days astatine the tract of the planned resort.
Mr. Rama has defended the project. Developers person said their absorption volition beryllium “responsible stewardship and biology enhancement.”
Albania’s Economy and Innovation Minister Delina Ibrahimaj said connected Thursday that biology interaction assessments are being drafted for the projected concern which would person to comply fully with biology authorities and safeguard the section habitat.
European biology directives and Albanian instrumentality supply ineligible guarantees against projects that could harm the protected lagoon and surrounding habitats, she was quoted arsenic saying by Albania’s authorities quality bureau ATA. Mr. Kushner announced plans to physique the edifice successful 2024 arsenic portion of a wider concern that besides included a erstwhile Army office successful the Serbian superior Belgrade. Last year, helium gave up the Serbia task pursuing thoroughfare protests.
