Key facts
- Thousands are protesting in Albania, initially against a luxury development project near a flamingo habitat.
- The protests have expanded to include demands for better schools, jobs, and living standards, and the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama.
- The government has granted 'special investor' status to a group including Jared Kushner for the luxury resort development.
- Conservationists argue the development would harm Albania's wildlife, including flamingos.
- Protesters allege government corruption and money laundering linked to the construction boom.
- Prime Minister Edi Rama views the protests as a sign of a healthy democracy, despite allies facing corruption investigations.
Thousands of Albanians have taken to the streets in a movement dubbed the 'Flamingo Revolution,' initially sparked by opposition to a luxury development project near the Narta Lagoon, a protected habitat for flamingos.
The protests have broadened significantly, with demonstrators chanting about schools, jobs, and living standards, and demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama and his Socialist Party, which has been in power for 13 years.
International investors, including Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, have been granted 'special investor' status for the resort project. Conservationists warn of detrimental impacts on wildlife, while protesters allege the development is linked to money laundering and corruption, supported by oligarchs and state functionaries.
Prime Minister Rama has characterized the protests as a sign of a healthy democracy, despite several close political allies facing investigations by Albania's anti-corruption prosecutors (SPAK). He stated his commitment to an independent justice system.
Adding to the dissent, Majana Koceku, a 25-year-old former member of parliament hand-picked by Rama, has quit the Socialist Party. She cited a crisis of legitimacy for the Prime Minister and a disconnect between the country's shiny new facades and its underlying reality.