Tens of thousands of Albanians marched through Tirana on Saturday, the 35th consecutive night of protests that have grown from opposition to a luxury resort project into a broad anti-government movement demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama. The demonstrations, dubbed the 'Flamingo Revolution', began in late May after details emerged of a €4.6 billion development on the protected Vjosa-Narta Lagoon, a habitat for flamingos and other migratory birds. The project is linked to Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, the son-in-law and daughter of U.S. President Donald Trump, who plan to build hotels, villas, and a marina on the site and on the nearby island of Sazan.

Protesters and environmental groups in Albania and across Europe argue that the construction would irreparably damage a sensitive ecosystem. The movement has since embraced wider grievances: participants accuse the Rama government of systemic corruption, cronyism, and enacting legislation to fast-track the project without adequate public consultation. 'Lack of transparency, arrogance – enough! The prime minister has to go,' a 40-year-old demonstrator told the AFP news agency. Banners reading 'Albania is not for sale' and mock birthday cakes made of cement—an allusion to Rama's 62nd birthday on Saturday—underscored the public anger.

The authorities' response has grown increasingly forceful. On Thursday, police used tear gas, pepper spray, and water cannon to prevent demonstrators from reaching parliament; 15 officers were injured and 25 protesters arrested. The Albanian Helsinki Committee, a leading human rights group, has criticised what it describes as 'excessive use of force' by the authorities, noting that isolated acts of violence cannot justify such measures. On Saturday night, crowds marched on a police station demanding the release of 19 detained protesters, with some smashing windows and prompting the deployment of water cannon.

The unrest has drawn attention from European institutions. EU parliamentarians have warned that large-scale construction in the protected area could jeopardise Albania's accession negotiations, which rely on progress in rule of law and environmental standards. The standoff also tests the resilience of Albania's 36-year-old democracy, with many young demonstrators saying they are exercising their rights for the first time after decades of post-communist disillusionment. As organisers vow to sustain the nightly marches and the government shows no sign of concession, the movement is expected to test both the country's institutional safeguards and the EU's leverage in the Western Balkans.