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"The Prime Minister has lost touch with ordinary Albanians", the Dutch giant echoes the protest in Albania: Uprising against an entire political caste
2026-06-22 13:05:14 / POLITIKË
Mass protests in Albania continue. For more than twenty days now, angry Albanians have taken to the streets adorned with flamingo signs.
The cause: plans to build a 'Trump resort.' But the discontent has a deeper origin.
The luxury resorts of Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, the daughter and son-in-law of the US president, will be built in a protected nature reserve known as a flamingo habitat. Brussels even warns that if the construction plans go ahead, this could have consequences for Albania's possible accession to the EU.
" This is not a revolt against corruption, but against arrogance ," declared Pieter van Os.
However, the protest is about more than just nature conservation, says journalist and Albania expert Pieter van Os. " It's about preserving the country. The feeling is: why would we throw ourselves in this way? "
The protests began in late May. Initially, they were mainly attended by locals and environmentalists. Van Os says that ordinary Albanians welcomed the arrival of the luxury resorts. " The entire Albanian coast has been basically destroyed with cheap concrete structures in the style of Torremolinos. " They see the Trump resorts as an opportunity to attract wealthier tourists. The government also emphasizes mainly the economic benefits.
AFPFlamingos fly over the Narta Lagoon, in the protected nature reserve where the Trump resort will be built.
However, public attitudes changed when images of a crackdown on environmental activists surfaced. Van Os: " A demonstrator was dragged across the beach in a pretty brutal way. A police officer was standing there. He didn't do anything. And then the whole scene exploded."
The distrust was further reinforced by the reaction of Prime Minister Rama. He recently made it clear that he would not listen to the protest: " This project will continue as long as I am in power."
Since then, local demonstrations have turned into a national protest against his government. Critics accuse him of an authoritarian style. Van Os: "The prime minister seems to have lost touch with ordinary Albanians. Therefore, this is a revolt against Rama's arrogance, which takes the support of his people for granted."
CORRUPTION
Albania wants to join the EU, but corruption could hinder its accession. According to the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), Albania is one of the most corrupt countries in Europe. In 2016, a corruption prosecutor, backed by the EU, forced several senior politicians to resign. Some even ended up in prison. At the moment, two deputy prime ministers are still under investigation.
The corruption prosecutor is now also investigating the Trump project. A law regulating the protection of nature reserves was recently changed. "As a result, the construction of five-star hotels is now allowed," says Albanian environmentalist Joni Vospri. "Even in the heart of a protected area."
Former VVD senator Ben Swagerman has confidence in that prosecutor. He works in Albania on behalf of the EU and his main goal is to fight corruption in the country. Swagerman is pleased to see that the much-criticized government is not hindering the anti-corruption prosecutor. "It's a plus for the EU that Albania is doing so much to fight crime."
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Flamingo protest in Albania
The protesters cannot count on the support of opposition politicians. Even they claim to see mainly the economic benefits of the resorts. But, says Van Os, the fact that the opposition is not participating in the protests has actually been "essential to the massiveness of the uprising." The protest is essentially "an uprising against an entire political caste."
Even Florjan Binaj sees this. He is an Albanian actor and comedian who regularly mocks Prime Minister Rama. " This protest goes beyond Kushner and flamingos. My problem is that our government has built up a great arrogance over the last thirteen years and is no longer accountable to the people in any way. Their vision is not to serve the people, but for the people to serve the political status quo. " / Translated by Alfapress.al from NOS
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