Protestors gather in front of Albania’s Prime Minister’s Office during a demonstration against a luxury resort development near a protected natural area, in Tirana on June 20, 2026.
Adnan Beci | Afp | Getty Images
Thousands protested in Albania’s capital over the weekend for one of the largest rallies yet against a proposed luxury development project linked to U.S. President Donald Trump‘s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
Protesters in Tirana were seen carrying Albanian flags and banners saying “Albania is not for sale” on Saturday as they marched toward the office of Prime Minister Edil Rama, calling for his resignation and reportedly chanting against the Socialist Party government.
Further protests took place in the western city of Vlora on Sunday as demonstrations continued into their 22nd consecutive day.
The primary focus of the demonstrations is a proposed Kushner-linked tourism project on Albania’s Adriatic coast. The protests have since fused with wider public anger over opaque real estate deals and alleged government corruption.
This aerial photograph shows protestors gathering in front of Albania’s Prime Minister’s Office during a demonstration against a luxury resort development near a protected natural area, in Tirana on June 20, 2026.
Adnan Beci | Afp | Getty Images
The protests have become known as the “flamingo revolution” due to the purported threat to wildlife and delicate ecosystems, including flocks of flamingos, posed by development projects on the country’s southern coast.
Albania’s prime minister, who has defended the multi-billion-euro development, has rejected calls to resign.
Rama has reportedly said Kushner’s involvement, rather than environmental concerns about the project itself, seemed to be fueling the protests.
Kushner’s investment firm, Affinity Partners, referred CNBC to a PR firm when contacted for comment. The agency said Sazan Real Estate Development LLC is the entity developing the project and that Affinity Partners has no involvement. It added that any U.S. partners were involved in their personal capacity.
“Our goal is simple: celebrate Albania’s natural beauty, create jobs, and build something future generations can be proud of,” Asher Abehsera, chair of Sazan Real Estate Development LLC, said in a statement.
“Its future will ultimately be determined by Albania and the Albanian people,” Abehsera said.
A spokesperson for Albania’s government was not immediately available to comment.
Correction: This article has been updated to correct that Sazan Real Estate Development LLC is the entity developing a real estate development on Albania’s Adriatic coast.
