Mass protests sweep Albania as citizens demand PM Edi Rama’s resignation over graft claims
Thousands of Albanian citizens have flooded the streets of the capital and other major cities in ongoing demonstrations calling for the removal of Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama and opposition leader Sali Berisha. The protesters hold both political figures responsible for three decades of systemic corruption that has plagued the Balkan nation since the fall of the communist regime in 1991. The demonstrations, which began in May, represent the largest civil unrest Albania has witnessed in over three decades, according to local activists and international observers.
The immediate trigger for the mass mobilization was the announcement of a multi-billion-dollar luxury resort development plan spearheaded by Jared Kushner and his business partners through investment firm Affinity Partners. The ambitious project aims to add approximately 10,000 hotel rooms and villas along Albania’s coastal territories, with two primary locations identified for development. One site is the abandoned Sazan Island, which previously housed a Soviet military installation, while the other is situated in Zvërnec, an area designated as part of the Vjosa-Narta protected landscape where endangered monk seals, flamingos, and sea turtles maintain critical habitats.
Former diplomat dismisses anti-foreign investment narrative
Agim Nesho, who previously served as Albanian ambassador to both the United States and the United Nations, firmly rejected characterizations that the protests target the Trump family or foreign investors. He emphasized that the US$4 billion investment would generate substantial employment opportunities for Albanian youth. Nesho pointed out that the development would occur on private land whose protected status was revoked years earlier by Rama’s administration and associated business interests. The former diplomat expressed hope that international investors would demonstrate greater environmental accountability than local political and business figures who might otherwise exploit the same territories.
Nesho further claimed that after 12 years in power and at least three disputed elections, including last year’s parliamentary vote that the United States did not recognize, Rama secured a supermajority capable of altering laws and constitutional provisions. This concentration of power, according to Nesho, has positioned Rama’s tenure on increasingly unstable ground as public dissatisfaction intensifies.
Government response shifts from denial to hybrid warfare claims
Eric Czuleger, editor-in-chief of The Under Report and a five-year resident of Albania who has documented the evolving demonstrations, described the unprecedented pressure now facing Rama’s government. Initially, the prime minister dismissed the protests as insignificant, claiming only a few hundred disgruntled individuals participated. However, as the movement expanded and international media coverage forced domestic outlets to break their initial blackout of the events, the government’s narrative shifted dramatically. Rama then characterized the demonstrations as a “hybrid war” orchestrated by foreign actors, specifically naming Iran and Russia as instigators.
- Protests began in May following announcement of coastal resort development plans
- Demonstrations represent largest civil unrest since 1991 end of communist rule
- Government initially ignored protests before attributing them to foreign interference
- European Parliament called for construction moratorium on protected lands
- US$4 billion investment project includes 10,000 hotel rooms and villas
Prime minister defends development projects amid environmental concerns
Despite months of sustained protests, Prime Minister Rama has not wavered in his support for the planned investments. His government issued an extensive response addressing what it termed misinformation and baseless attacks from foreign parties and individuals opposed to what officials describe as a highly ambitious next-generation tourism destination. The statement clarified that Sazan Island remains state property and has never been intended for sale, while the Zvërnec area consists of privately owned land with disputed claims currently under judicial review.
Leia Também
Fies 2026 abre inscrições com juros zero e prazo de até 18 anos para pagamento do financiamento
Hundreds of deceased dogs, many shot, uncovered at northern California’s ‘no-kill’ sanctuary
Washington’s swift aid to Venezuela after recent quakes challenges hemisphere policy
Rama’s administration emphasized that the project must undergo an in-depth environmental impact assessment, not merely a standard evaluation. The government also contested claims that protected status designations were removed from development areas to facilitate investment, calling such assertions among the greatest falsehoods circulated about the project. Officials further stated that the development sites have no connection whatsoever to the Vjosa Delta, contradicting environmental activists’ concerns.
European Parliament intervenes as disinformation clouds project details
On Wednesday, the European Parliament urged the Albanian government to halt construction activities on protected lands and called for a moratorium on issuing further permits for development in environmentally sensitive areas. The parliamentary action adds international pressure to domestic unrest. A source familiar with the luxury resort project indicated that fabricated and doctored materials circulating online about the development have emerged from outside the country, contributing to public confusion and opposition.
Asher Abehsera, chair of Sazan Real Estate Development LLC, stated that his organization has worked for four years toward creating a world-class coastal destination rooted in thoughtful design, environmental stewardship, and long-term economic opportunity. Abehsera described the project’s goal as celebrating Albania’s natural beauty while creating jobs and building something future generations could take pride in. He acknowledged that the project’s ultimate fate rests with Albania and its people.
Protesters face uncertainty about movement’s future direction
As demonstrations continue, Czuleger noted that Albanian protesters harbor dual concerns: that nothing will change if Rama remains in power, and that something worse could emerge if his government falls. Citizens question whether corruption will ever end if leadership doesn’t change now, yet fear that regime change might bring even more problematic figures to power. The observer noted that protesters are experiencing fatigue as the news cycle moves forward, suggesting that only patience, sustained pressure, and clarification of the movement’s goals will bring administrative change.
Albanian actor and artist Florjan Binaj described the protests as the biggest demonstrations the country has experienced since 1991, characterizing the atmosphere as amazingly powerful. Binaj committed to joining the protests for as long as possible, stating that demonstrators want Rama’s resignation to enable formation of an alternative government. The sustained mobilization reflects deep-seated frustration with governance structures that citizens believe have failed to serve public interests for more than three decades.
