Daily demonstrations in Albania against a luxury resort planned for the Narta Lagoon may no longer be as powerful as they were at the beginning. Nevertheless, environmental activists have no intention of giving up.
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Opponents of a luxury construction project in a protected natural area in Albania have protested in central Tirana for the 100th consecutive day.
Since May 31, the “Dëshmorët e Kombit” Boulevard has drawn hundreds of thousands of protesters. Over more than two months, Albania has witnessed the longest-running protest in its history, known as the “Flamingo Revolution.”
Holding hands, protesters surrounded the prime minister’s office on Monday evening (September 7, 2026), and then continued marching through the city.
The protesters carried signs bearing messages such as “Albania is not for sale!” and called for the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama, who supports the project.
What has been achieved after 100 days of protest?
What initially began as a protest against the project in Zvërnec, linked to U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, later turned into a revolt against the government and the opposition, openly voicing clear demands, the main one being the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama.
One of the protest’s activists believes that a great deal has been achieved: “First, Albanians have overcome their fear and understood that the government should not listen to them only on election day, but should always listen to them. Second, I believe we have shown that the Albanian government is not what it tries to present itself as in the Albanian and international media.”
Flamingo breeding grounds at risk
The wave of protests is directed against plans to build on part of the Narta Lagoon, in the Vjosa River delta, by American investors. The main role is being played by a company owned by Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump. Luxury hotels, villa complexes and entertainment facilities are planned for Zvërnec Bay and Sazan Island.
Environmentalists fear that the project could permanently damage the sensitive ecosystem of the Vjosa Delta on the Adriatic coast. The area includes resting and breeding grounds for flamingos, herons and many other bird species. Since many protesters regularly bring flamingo figures made of cardboard, the movement has been dubbed the “Flamingo Revolution” in the media.
The Albanian prime minister’s response to the protest
Although Prime Minister Edi Rama initially accused the protesters of being influenced by foreign countries hostile to Albania, he later accused them of damaging Albania’s image. In the end, however, Rama was forced to acknowledge that some of the concerns raised on the boulevard were justified.
In response, he introduced “Besa” and “Loyal Presence” as two platforms that, according to him, would help improve governance and bring the ruling majority closer to citizens.
“Resistance is not measured by numbers, but by perseverance”
While thousands, and sometimes even tens of thousands, of people took part in the protests at the beginning, Monday’s demonstration was attended by between several hundred and 1,000 people, according to estimates seen in a video broadcast. “Resistance is not measured by numbers, but by perseverance,” one of the protest speakers told the demonstrators./DW
