Dua Lipa Joins the Flamingo Protests / Foreign Media: Her Words Are a Striking Refrain Against the Rama Government

Brussels-based media “EUalive” has dedicated an article to the public criticism Dua Lipa made of the government during her podcast with writer Lea Ypi, describing the world-famous singer’s voice as influential in the civic protest that has been going on for over a month.

The article emphasizes that the music star’s words come as a refrain that strikes the government of Prime Minister Edi Rama, as she expresses concern that environmental protection can be altered without proper public consultation.

“For Rama, this is an awkward moment,” the media article states, adding that when a globally significant figure like Dua Lipa raises her voice, the message spreads far beyond the squares of Tirana.

“She is not organizing protests or calling for resignations, but her quiet entry into this debate makes her a new influential factor,” the article says.

Full article:

After nearly 50 days of protests on the streets of Albania, global superstar Dua Lipa has finally reacted – and her words come as a well-aimed refrain against the government of Prime Minister Edi Rama.

Born in London to Albanian parents in 1995, Dua (whose name means “love” in Albanian) rose from posting song covers on YouTube as a teenager to become one of the biggest pop artists in the world. With hits like “Levitating,” “Don’t Start Now,” and “New Rules,” she has won Grammy awards, has billions of streams on music platforms, and holds major influence in the fashion world as well, becoming a cultural ambassador beyond music. She proudly waves the Albanian flag at her concerts, visits family in Kosovo, and has previously used her platform to highlight issues related to the Balkans. For an audience used to EU policy and MEPs rather than music stars, she can be thought of as the equivalent of an extraordinarily influential influencer whose reach far exceeds that of many politicians.

On her podcast “Service95,” alongside Lea Ypi, Lipa expressed a measured concern rather than a sharp attack: she finds it “worrying” that environmental protection can be changed without proper public consultation. This is a calm, principle-focused criticism, yet clearly directed at the legal changes that paved the way for a luxury resort project linked to Jared Kushner. It is not a fiery political manifesto but a clear signal that even a globally famous figure, with nothing to gain from this issue, is closely following the situation.

For Rama, this is an awkward moment. The “Flamingo” protests – so named after the migratory birds threatened by the project’s development – have already shifted from a local environmental clash into a broader movement against what is perceived as favoritism toward entrenched interests and a lack of transparency. When a globally significant figure with a strong Albanian identity like Dua Lipa raises her voice, the message travels far beyond the squares of Tirana. She is not organizing protests or calling for resignations, but her quiet entry into this debate makes her a new influential factor.

Whether this will shift the political balance remains to be seen. But in an era of viral moments and diaspora power, a single, thoughtfully chosen sentence on a podcast from London’s most famous Albanian daughter carries a weight that decisions made behind closed doors in the capital cannot easily dismiss. The streets of Albania have been speaking for weeks; now a globally recognized voice has joined this melody.

In this heated debate that has engulfed Albania, the unusual story now featuring Jared and Ivanka Kushner, Prime Minister Edi Rama, and pop icon Dua Lipa resembles a scenario that even the most shocking Netflix series would struggle to outdo.