After 45 days of protests against a luxury development backed by Donald Trump's son-in-law, Prime Minister Edi Rama's pledge to align environmental legislation with EU standards marks a turning point in the movement.
The "Flamingo Revolution" — a protest movement born from opposition to a sprawling luxury resort linked to Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump — has achieved its first major political breakthrough.
After 45 consecutive days of demonstrations, Prime Minister Edi Rama has pledged to repeal and amend the controversial laws that enabled the project in a protected coastal area . The announcement came during a joint press conference in Brussels on Tuesday with European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos.
"We need to repeal the law on strategic investments," Rama said, adding that the protected areas law would be brought into alignment with EU standards .
Environmental activists and protesters at home hailed the declaration as a "moral victory." Ervin Goci, a professor and protest leader, wrote on Facebook: "This is one of the greatest victories of the 'Flamingo Revolution,' which compelled the Commissioner for Enlargement to condition Albania's progress in the integration process on repeal of the Law on Protected Areas" .
The Kushner Project at the Heart of the Storm
The protests erupted in late May after heavy machinery and barbed-wire fencing appeared on a beach in Zvërnec — part of the Vjosa-Narta Protected Landscape, a delta region home to over 200 bird species including flamingos, as well as Mediterranean monk seals and sea turtles .
The luxury development, estimated at $4.6 billion, is being developed by a company linked to Kushner's investment firm, Affinity Partners, alongside Qatari billionaire brothers Ramez and Mohamad Al-Khayyat . It would span the uninhabited Sazan Island — which Ivanka Trump described as "captivating" — and a stretch of coastline near the Narta Lagoon, a critical habitat for migratory birds .
The government had amended its Law on Protected Areas in February 2024 to allow "high-end tourism projects" inside protected zones, and granted the Kushner-linked company "strategic investor" status, enabling fast-track permitting procedures and reduced environmental scrutiny .
EU Pressure and Protester Victory
The European Parliament expressed "deep regret" over the two laws in June, stating they put the interests of luxury tourism developers ahead of protected natural areas . The European Commission warned Albania that failure to align with EU environmental standards could jeopardize its membership bid.
Protesters take part in a rally in Tirana, Saturday, June 20, 2026, against a coastal development project in western Albania linked to Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, which is facing growing opposition from environmental advocates and has triggered daily protests in the Albanian capital. (AP Photo/Hameraldi Agolli)
Kos confirmed that the EU had already agreed with Albania that the 2024 amendments would be repealed this year, even before the protests erupted .
The movement has evolved from an environmental fight into broader anti-government dissent, with protesters demanding Rama's resignation and chanting "Rama has to go to jail" . Police have repeatedly used tear gas and water cannons to disperse demonstrators outside parliament .
A Setback for Kushner
The development is a setback for Kushner, whose investment firm had planned the luxury resort. It follows a similar pattern: Kushner was forced to withdraw from a luxury development in Serbia after prosecutors charged four individuals, including a government minister, with abuse of office to pave the way for that project .
For now, however, the Flamingo Revolution has demonstrated that sustained public pressure — combined with international backing — can challenge even the most politically connected developers.
"Don't forget that two months ago in Narta, the most popular 'animal' was the bulldozer," Goci said, adding that the real victory would come when all protected areas are saved and Rama resigns.
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