A widespread protest is underway over a Donald Trump-allied project in Albania, which reportedly encroaches upon a protected wildlife area that houses flamingoes and turtles.
Named the “Flamingo Revolution,” the protests have triggered an investigation by Albania’s anti-corruption agency, warnings of an intervention from the European Union, and massive street protests demanding the resignation of the country’s political establishment
Donald Trump’s family-linked resort project in Albania is facing European Parliament scrutiny
Sazan Island is a 1,400-hectare, off-grid former Cold War military base covered in bunkers and rare wildlife that is now being targeted for a $1.6 billion ultra-luxury transformation.
Protests have been ongoing since June 1 over the development of the luxury resort, backed by Trump’s daughter and son-in-law, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner. Thousands of people are gathering every day in Tirana, the country’s capital, to protest the environmental damage the project could inflict on the area.
EU officials have also intervened by issuing formal warnings to the Albanian government. They have noted that the project focused on accommodating foreign billionaires is disrupting the natural ecology. This can directly affect Albania’s accession to the bloc.
Additionally, Albania’s special anti-corruption body, SPAK, has launched an investigation into controversial legislative changes passed in 2024 that have quietly weakened legal protections of the country’s natural reserves.
Guillaume Mercier, an EU spokesperson, has commented, “Let me stress that Albania should refrain from action that could undermine the fulfillment of the closing benchmark, and we expect the Albanian authorities to act without delay,” indicating that the country should meet the EU’s environmental standards to ensure its entry into the bloc.
While Jared Kushner has lowered his public profile and left responses to his real estate partner, Ivanka Trump has publicly defended the “massive-in-scale” project, stating it is being pursued with “restraint and care” because they were captivated by the island’s beauty.
DO YOU AGREE WITH THE PROTESTERS?
Originally reported by Sreemanti Sengupta on Mandatory
