Austrian media: Albanian citizens take to the streets for the 100th consecutive day, demand Rama’s resignation

Austrian media outlet “Kurier” has published an article about the protests that have been continuing for months against Edi Rama’s government, with yesterday marking the 100th day.

The outlet reported that citizens took to the streets in central Tirana for the 100th consecutive day, demanding Rama’s resignation.

“They carried banners with slogans such as ‘Albania is not for sale!’ and chanted slogans calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama,” the outlet wrote.

The outlet also mentioned that the protest began in opposition to the project in Zvërnec, adding that it expanded to demand the government’s removal.

Full article:

Opponents of a luxury real estate project in an Albanian nature reserve demonstrated in central Tirana for the 100th consecutive day. They carried banners with slogans such as “Albania is not for sale!” and chanted slogans calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama, who supports the project. The wave of protests is directed against the planned development of parts of the Narta Lagoon in the Vjosa River delta by American investors.

The project is being led 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.

Flamingo breeding grounds at risk

Environmentalists fear that the project could cause long-term damage to the fragile ecosystem in the Vjosa delta on the Adriatic Sea. This includes resting and breeding grounds for flamingos, herons and other birds. Since many demonstrators continually bring homemade cardboard cutouts of flamingos, the movement has been dubbed the “Flamingo Revolution” in the media.

While thousands, and sometimes tens of thousands, took part in gatherings during the first days, only a few hundred to around 1,000 people attended Monday’s demonstration, as could be seen in a video broadcast. “Persistence is not measured by numbers, but by resistance,” one of the speakers told the crowd.

Still no building permit

According to research by Albanian media, no building permit has yet been issued for the resort. So far, the responsible authority has granted the investor permission only to fence off the future construction site and create access roads within it.

In fact, the initial work to fence off the site began at the end of April. The first protest—still a small one—was held on May 30 at the construction fence near Zvërnec. A physical attack by security guards from a private company against a demonstrator ultimately triggered the wave of protests that continues to this day.