Italian Media Outlet “L’Indipendente” Highlights Tirana Protest: The Movement Is Diverse but United, Citizens Demand Rama’s Resignation!

According to the Italian media outlet, what began as opposition to plans to build luxury resorts in protected areas has turned into a protest with direct political demands.

Protesters are demanding the resignation of the Rama government and sweeping changes to the state administration.

The article says that thousands of citizens continue to gather in Tirana’s squares before marching toward government institutions, while stressing that for three days, on August 14, 15 and 16, the diaspora will fill the squares and streets of Tirana.

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It has now been almost three months since, around the middle of last May, Albanian citizens launched the “flamingo revolt,” which began as opposition to the unrestricted sale of Albanian land and the construction of luxury resorts in protected areas, but very quickly became a vehicle for protest against the government and the entire political class. Dozens of people have been arrested for various criminal offenses, while police are attempting to suppress the marches, including through the use of force. In addition to protesting in public squares, activists are also taking action on other fronts: a petition has been launched seeking the repeal of the provision allowing the construction of resorts and luxury facilities in protected areas.

The protests in Albania have reached their 75th consecutive day. The demonstration, which has now become a ritual, begins in the late afternoon in Tirana’s central squares, where citizens gather to protest before marching toward government buildings, which are currently closed for the summer holidays. Although months have passed since the protests began, turnout has remained steady: thousands of citizens continue to take to the capital’s squares to demand the resignation of the Rama government and a sweeping restructuring of the state apparatus, which they consider corrupt. The main demands remain unchanged: in addition to the government’s resignation, protesters are calling for the repeal of Law 21/2024 on protected areas, Law 55/2015 on strategic investments and Law 20/2025 on investments in mountainous areas, as well as the revocation of all permits issued under these provisions.

The flamingo movement is diverse but united. It includes representatives of various civic and religious groups, who have now begun addressing many aspects of Albanian society considered critical. In recent weeks, one of the most widely discussed issues has been a new government initiative aimed at reducing the number of municipalities by merging some of them. Today, the Divjaka community’s protest against the municipal merger plan reached its 14th day. The protests have also been fueled by singer Kanye West’s recent concert, for which the Ministry of Culture reportedly allocated 4.2 million euros. “All the support provided to the country’s independent arts scene amounts to just 1.9 million euros,” activists argue, while demanding radical changes within the ministry.

The protesters are not only taking action in public squares, but also at the institutional level: the Albanian Diaspora Movement, together with 11 other civil society organizations, has submitted a referendum question to the Central Election Commission seeking the repeal of Law 21/2024, which, according to its sponsors, opens the way for speculation in protected areas. The same movement has announced that, starting tomorrow, it will return to Albania’s squares and join its compatriots in the country: the movement of Albanians living abroad will also take to the streets of Tirana on August 15 and 16.

The protests in Albania began last May. Initially directed against the luxury real estate project of Affinity Partners, the company owned by Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, they quickly developed into a broader anti-government movement and later into a movement against the entire political system. On several occasions, the protests have been suppressed by force and dozens of demonstrators have been arrested. The exact number of people detained in connection with the protests is unknown, but according to the Social Justice association and lawyer Gentian Sejrani, a representative of the same organization, some of those arrested are suspected of having been assaulted while in custody.