Citizen Revolt for Rama’s Resignation, Prestigious French Media: Hundreds of Protesters Attacked with Tear Gas and Pepper Spray Outside Parliament

Albanian police used tear gas and water cannons against protesters outside parliament on Thursday morning, as opposition to a tourism project linked to the Trump family has engulfed the nation.

Since late May, protests have been held against the planned construction of a luxury hotel linked to Trump’s daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner, on a nature reserve on the country’s coast.

In recent weeks, at several rallies protesters have clashed with police outside parliament in the capital, with demonstrators attempting to pelt lawmakers with eggs.

On Thursday, police maintained a heavy presence from early morning and used water cannons and tear gas as protesters tried to breach security cordons to approach parliament, AFP journalists at the scene reported.

The latest demonstration came as parliament was expected on Thursday to approve a 4-million-euro ($4.6 million) subsidy for a Kanye West concert held in Tirana earlier this month.

Prime Minister Edi Rama promised the funding, saying it was necessary to prevent the concert from being canceled.

The decision further angered protesters, who had been on the streets for more than a month over the resort project, which has become a flashpoint of concerns over perceived corruption and lack of government transparency.

The luxury tourist complex, planned in a protected area and on a nearby uninhabited island, has drawn large crowds and international attention due to environmental concerns and its Trump family ties.

No official number of participants in the nightly protests has been released, but AFP journalists at the demonstrations estimated crowds in the thousands until at least mid-July.