Albanian Protesters Fill Streets Calling for Prime Minister’s Resignation Over Corruption Allegations

Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama’s government is facing mounting pressure as Albanians continue to protest, demanding the resignation of both Rama and opposition leader Sali Berisha. Demonstrators accuse the two men and their parties of helping sustain roughly three decades of corruption since the fall of Albania’s communist regime in 1991.

The unrest was initially sparked by a multibillion-dollar luxury resort proposal involving Jared Kushner and his business partners. Through the investment firm Affinity Partners, the project envisions two resort developments that would bring about 10,000 hotel rooms and villas to Albania’s coastline.

One of the proposed sites is Sazan Island, an abandoned island that once housed a Soviet military base. The other is in Zvërnec, an area associated with the Vjosa-Narta protected landscape, a habitat for monk seals and flamingos and a nesting area for sea turtles.

Agim Nesho, Albania’s former ambassador to the United States and the United Nations, told Fox News Digital that “contrary to some misinformation in the media, the protests in Albania are not directed at President Donald Trump’s family or foreign investors such as Jared Kushner. These investors are bringing $4 billion into Albania, which will create jobs and opportunities for our young people.”

“They are developing private land whose protected status was removed years ago by Rama and his oligarchs. International investors operate with standards and accountability, and there is hope they will show greater care and respect for the environment than Edi Rama and the business interests around him, who would otherwise build there themselves,” Nesho said.

Nesho further alleged that “after 12 years and at least three stolen elections, including last year’s parliamentary vote, which was not recognized by the United States and gave Rama a supermajority capable of changing laws and the constitution, Rama’s time in power now appears to be running out.”

Eric Czuleger, Editor-in-Chief of The Under Report, has lived in Albania for five years and has documented the growing protests. He told News Agency that “Rama’s government has never been under such direct pressure from the Albanian people and his response is instructive. First, he denied the existence of the protests, claiming that they were a couple hundred people with an axe to grind. When they grew, the international media forced the domestic media [to] stop its blackout. Suddenly, the protests were a ‘hybrid war’ spurred on by Iran and Russia.”

The protests, which began in May, have not swayed Prime Minister Rama’s support for planned investments. The Rama government sent a lengthy response to News Agency on behalf of the prime minister directed at “all interested foreign parties and individuals, who have spread all kinds of misinformation and launched all kinds of baseless attacks all over the globe against a highly ambitious project with the potential to become another role model for how next-generation tourism destinations can be built.”

His statement added that “Sazan Island is state property and has never been intended, nor requested, to be sold.” He also said that the “area in Zvërnec is privately owned land,” and explains that additional claimants to the land have taken their claims to court. 

In an effort to clear up misconceptions, Rama’s statement said that “the project must undergo not merely an ordinary Environmental Impact Assessment, but an In-Depth Environmental Impact Assessment.” Rama also claims that the project location “has no connection whatsoever with the Vjosa Delta,” and says that claims that protected status labels were removed from development areas to allow for investment “is one of the greatest falsehoods inflated beyond all imagination.”

Irrespective of Rama’s defense of the projects, on Wednesday, the European Parliament urged the Albanian government to stop construction on protected lands, Politico reported. They also called for a moratorium on further permits and construction in protected areas.

A source familiar with the situation with the luxury resort project told News Agency that some of what is circulating online about the project is fabricated and doctored, and that some disinformation has emerged from outside the country.  

Asher Abehsera, Chair of Sazan Real Estate Development LLC, told News Agency that “for four years, we have worked toward creating a world-class destination on the Albanian coast—one rooted in thoughtful design, environmental stewardship, and long-term economic opportunity. Our goal is simple: celebrate Albania’s natural beauty, create jobs, and build something future generations can be proud of.” Abehsera said that the project’s “future will ultimately be determined by Albania and the Albanian people.”

As the protests continue, Czuleger said that Albanians are both “concerned that nothing will happen” and “concerned that something bad could happen” if the Rama government does step down. “If leadership doesn’t change now, then people wonder if the corruption will ever stop,” he said. “If leadership does change then it’s possible someone worse comes in.” Czuleger said that “protesters are tired,” and “the news cycle is moving on.” Noting that the “only thing that will bring a change to the administration is patience, pressure, and a clarification of the movement’s goals.”

Albanian actor and artist Florjan Binaj told Fox News that the protests “are the biggest protests that have ever happened in Albania since 1991.” He called the protest atmosphere “amazingly powerful.

Binaj said that he plans to join the protests for “as long as [he] can,” noting that “the protesters want Rama’s resignation” to pave the way for an alternative government.

Nesho added,” The protesters have risen up due to the fact that one of the poorest countries in Europe can count billions and billions in corruption by a government that holds itself accountable to no one. It is difficult for the protesters to compromise and negotiate with PM Rama under these circumstances. The only path is resignation of the government and early elections under international monitors.”

The Rama government did not respond to direct questions about protesters’ concerns.