For months, thousands of citizens have been protesting in Albania. The protests were sparked by a project to build a luxury resort by Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law, in a protected lagoon that is home to flamingos. But the protests have now taken on a broader dimension, focusing on corruption, abuse of power and the selling out of the country’s interests.

DW correspondent Miodrag Soric explains whether the “Flamingo Revolution” could pose a threat to Prime Minister Edi Rama.

The mass protests that have been taking place in Albania for weeks have attracted the attention of the international media. A report by Deutsche Welle correspondent Miodrag Soric, titled “Corruption, the Trump Family, Flamingos: Why Albania Has Taken to the Streets,” examines how a protest that began in defense of the environment has turned into a broader movement against corruption, abuse of power and the way the country is governed.

According to the report, the spark for the protests was a project to build a luxury resort by Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, in the protected Narta-Vjosa area, a habitat for flamingos and dozens of protected species.

However, the protests are no longer limited to opposition to this investment, but have turned into a civic revolt against corruption, cronyism and Albania’s model of governance.

The report notes that many young people are leaving Albania because of a lack of prospects, while corruption and the concentration of power are seen as factors that have fueled public discontent.

DW also examines the dilemma between economic development and environmental protection, raising the question of whether foreign investment justifies intervention in protected areas.

Correspondent Miodrag Soric also analyzes Prime Minister Edi Rama’s political position, the role of the opposition and what he describes as the lack of a strong political alternative. The report also examines the possibility of pressure from the European Union on Albania, as well as the role that judicial and anti-corruption institutions could play in relation to the controversial tourism project.

In conclusion, DW notes that the “Flamingo Revolution” has moved beyond the boundaries of an environmental protest and become a symbol of dissatisfaction with the way the country is governed, while it remains to be seen whether this movement will influence political developments in the country.

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