The government led by Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama is facing a growing wave of political pressure and protests across the country, as public discontent continues to spread.
According to a report published by the American media outlet Fox News, demonstrators are calling not only for Rama’s resignation, but also for the resignation of opposition leader Sali Berisha, holding both main political camps responsible for the corruption accumulated over more than three decades since the fall of communism.
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Protests demanding Rama’s removal have continued in several cities, with repeated public participation and demands that, according to the report, go beyond the usual political rotation.
One of the elements that has fueled debate, according to the article, is the plan to build two luxury resorts on the Albanian coast by investors linked to American businessman Jared Kushner.
The project, worth several billion dollars, предусматриes the development of around 10,000 hotel rooms and tourist villas on Sazan Island and in the Zvërnec area.
Sazan Island, a former military base, and the Zvërnec area, near the protected Vjosa–Narta landscape, have become the subject of debate over the possible impact on the environment and biodiversity, including protected species such as flamingos, Mediterranean seals, and sea turtles.
Former Albanian ambassador to the United States and the UN, Agim Nesho, is quoted by Fox News as saying that the protests are not directed against foreign investors or the family of the American president, but against the way the country is being governed.
“Investors are bringing around $4 billion to Albania, creating jobs and opportunities for young people. The problem is not the investors, but the way the country has been managed by the current government,” Nesho said.
He also added the claim that the most recent parliamentary elections have not been recognized by the United States and that the current government has consolidated a strong political majority.
Meanwhile, journalist Eric Czuleger, who has lived in Albania for years and follows political developments, has stated that the government initially downplayed the protests and later described them as part of a “hybrid war” influenced by external actors.
For its part, the Albanian government has defended the tourism projects, emphasizing that Sazan Island remains state property and is not being sold, while the land in Zvërnec is privately owned.
In a response to Fox News, the authorities said that every project will be subject to a full environmental impact assessment and denied changing the status of protected areas to pave the way for investments.
However, according to the report, the European Parliament has called for a halt to construction in protected areas in Albania and the imposition of a moratorium on new construction permits in these territories.
One of the representatives of the project on Sazan, Asher Abehsera, said the goal is to develop a tourist destination with international standards, emphasizing the balance between economic development and environmental protection.
As the protests continue, organizers are demanding the government’s resignation and new elections, while artist Florjan Binaj has described the demonstrations as among the largest since 1991, confirming his continued participation.
According to protesters quoted by Fox News, perceived corruption and the lack of accountability remain the main reasons for the discontent, while a new electoral process under international monitoring is being demanded.
