Albania saw its largest demonstration yet against Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner’s plans to build a luxury resort on the country’s southern coastline.
Thousands stood outside prime minister Edi Rama’s office in Tirana on Wednesday with signs reading “Albania is not for sale” amid growing fury over the development in Zvernec, which is expected to cost around €5bn.
The project is set to be built near a protected wetland, which is home to flamingoes, seals and sea turtle nesting sites.
Protesters have also expressed outrage at a perceived lack of transparency surrounding the plans, designed by foreign investors.
One protester, Leand Lakrori, said such a lack of transparency had been a feature of Albanian politics for decades in the country.
“The project in Zvernec is a project … with no transparency. And this is the apotheosis of what has been happening in Albania for the last 35 years. So today, enough is enough,” they said.
Rama has been blamed for not eradicating widespread corruption or doing enough to improve basic services like healthcare since he assumed power in 2013. He confirmed earlier this week that Kushner’s project would go ahead, insisting it would be completed responsibly.
The resort development is the brainchild of Kushner and his wife, Ivanka Trump, who described falling in love with Albania a few years ago while visiting on a yacht.
Protests erupted at the site near Zvernec when developers erected a fence around some of the land last month. The fence has since been taken down.
Speaking on David Senra’s podcast on 31 May, President Trump’s daughter revealed that the couple are turning Sazan Island off the coast of Albania into a luxury eco-resort with the help of “some of the greatest living architects of our time”.
She said that she first discovered the 1,400 hectare island whilst swimming off a friend’s boat.
“We developed the opportunity to help realize its potential and transform it, but with a lot of restraint and care because the land is so beautiful”, she said.
Rama has also said strides had been made to reduce graft, including through the creation of a special prosecution office, known as SPAK, which has opened a series of high-profile investigations in recent years.
Still, violent clashes also broke out earlier this year as protesters demanded the resignation of Rama’s deputy, Belinda Balluku, over alleged corruption. Rama fired Balluku, but the mistrust remains.
“I’m here to protest, to finish this saga of the Albanian government. It’s the same two parties always,” said Fabio Bracaj. “We want a new era … we want a better country.”
