"Threatened on the highway with my sons in the car"

Protests have intensified in Albania following an incident where security guards, reportedly linked to Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, forcibly removed a man from a construction site on protected land. The incident has galvanized citizens like Jorina Kadare, who feel the government is "selling out" the country.

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This is not just about corruption. It is a rot that goes through the whole system. For us, there is no way back, we will fight to the end.

Kadare, who had planned to return to Sweden, felt compelled to stay and protest. Demonstrations have grown to tens of thousands, with participants expressing that the issue extends beyond mere corruption to a "rot that goes through the whole system." Kadare, speaking from Stockholm, contrasted Albania's situation with the functioning infrastructure and opportunities in Sweden, highlighting the difficulties faced by single mothers and the unemployed in Albania, where healthcare and education often require payment.

Albania, one of Europe's poorer countries, has seen economic growth driven by tourism and a booming construction sector, with visitor numbers increasing by 85% since 2022. Prime Minister Edi Rama's 13-year tenure has seen reductions in poverty, unemployment, and increases in real wages. However, this economic progress has led to ambitious projects, including a luxury resort planned by Jared Kushner's venture capital firm, Affinity Partners, on the Sazan island and Zvërnec coastal area, with an estimated investment of 50 to 60 billion kronor.

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Look, a park that works, roads that work, people who have opportunities.

The project has sparked significant anger due to its location within areas critical for migratory birds and endangered species. Local residents discovered land preparation, fencing, and security personnel deployed in late May without warning. Kadare described the area as "magically beautiful" and stated that "No one has the right to bend even a blade of grass there, let alone come in with bulldozers."

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You have to pay for healthcare. School is three hours a day. To get a job, you have to pay the right people. If I hadn't had well-off parents, I would have ended up on the street.

While the government promotes these large-scale developments as drivers of economic transformation, critics point to the environmental destruction and the lack of transparency and public consultation. The protests highlight a deep-seated frustration among some Albanians who feel their natural heritage and public spaces are being sacrificed for foreign investment and elite interests.

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We wandered up, barefoot all the way to the top, and we were completely captivated.