By TIVAT, Montenegro — Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has dismissed growing protests against a planned luxury resort as a politically charged campaign fueled by critics of U.S. President Donald Trump, insisting the project poses no risk to flamingos and other wildlife.
Albanians took to the streets in recent days to protest plans by Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner to develop a luxury resort on Albania’s unspoiled Sazan Island and the Zvërnec coastline near Vlora. The movement has been dubbed the “flamingo revolution” by civil society and international media, as the area is an important habitat for the charismatic pink birds.
But in an interview with POLITICO, Rama defended Kushner’s planned resort, saying his policy of attracting foreign investment to develop Albania’s tourism industry was the right one. He dismissed international criticism, claiming the protests were not as widespread as had been reported.
“If it was not Jared, they would not give a shit about what is happening in Albania,” said Rama on the sidelines of the EU-Western Balkans summit in Tivat, Montenegro.
He claimed that “Trump haters” had helped amplify the protests — a cause he described as noble despite rejecting the criticism around the project.
The planned luxury resort — which is backed by Qatari and local investors, and could include up to 10,000 hotel rooms and villas — lies within a once-protected natural ecosystem that is home to flamingos, more than 200 migratory bird species, Mediterranean monk seals and nesting sea turtles. Environmental groups warn the habitats of these species will be damaged by the project.
Contentious changes made to Albania’s law on protected areas in 2024 paved the way for tourism developments in some of these locations, allowing further growth in a sector that has already trebled in size over the last decade. The resort in question did not undergo an environmental impact assessment.
“Foreigners are the first priority … because foreigners bring money to the country for Albanians,” stated Rama, pointing to the fact that the country tripled its GDP since he became prime minister in 2013.
Rama said he has not been in touch with Kushner since the protests began.
“He has his own things to do, and on the other hand, he and Ivanka have nothing to do with all this … totally fake and forged story,” said the Albanian leader, noting that other investors, such as Qatar’s Power Holding, were also involved in the project.
Antisemitism has become an ongoing narrative in the protests due to Kushner’s Jewish background and his involvement in mediating the Abraham Accords — a peace deal between Israel and several Arab countries including Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.
According to Rama, Iran was involved in a “hybrid war” of disinformation over the project. Albania has previously been a victim of Tehran’s cyberattacks in retaliation for providing refuge to the Iranian opposition.
“They are a part of it because there is no one else that is interested in fueling the narrative of antisemitism based on an incredible and despicable fake news,” said Rama, pointing to conspiracy theories about how the project will resettle Palestinians from Gaza to the area.
Protesters and civil society groups say the few antisemitic signs and social media posts are not a reflection of the broader movement.
Rama insisted attention was being paid to the resort’s social and biodiversity impact. He also pushed back against labeling the unrest the “flamingo revolution,” arguing that disinformation had distorted the actual number of protesters.
None of the European leaders attending the summit in Tivat have raised the topic, he said.
Albania hopes to join the EU in 2030, and Rama said he did not believe the environmental concerns would derail the country’s chances. He said European leaders would be able “to see with their eyes the flamingos and the development coexisting together beautifully.”
Asked if he would host a summit at the resort, he told POLITICO: “This will not be my Mar-A-Lago.”
Originally published on www.politico.eu — View original