Corruption and Trump project cause chaos in Albania: 'We are not Dubai, the country is not for sale'

Thousands of Albanians have taken to the streets, protesting a luxury resort project linked to Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of former U.S. President Donald Trump. The demonstrations, initially sparked by land allocation in a sensitive coastal area, have escalated into a national political crisis.

The protests began in Zvernec, within the Vjosa-Narta protected landscape, one of Albania's most vulnerable coastal ecosystems. Plans for a resort there reportedly involve Kushner, Trump's daughter Ivanka, and Qatari businessmen. Albanian media reports highlight concerns over disputed land ownership, unclear ownership structures, and the involvement of influential local business figures.

What started as a localized dispute over land has broadened into nationwide calls for the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama's government. The situation has drawn parallels to similar controversial projects, such as one in Belgrade involving Kushner, but the Albanian protests have gained significant national momentum.

Albania continues to be a major source of emigration per capita in the region, and those who remain face persistent employment challenges. The current political unrest adds another layer of complexity to the country's socio-economic landscape.