Albanian police used tear gas and water cannons against demonstrators outside parliament in Tirana on Thursday, as protests against a luxury tourism project linked to the Trump family escalated. According to multiple reports, police deployed water cannons and tear gas after protesters attempted to break through security barriers to approach the building. One demonstrator was taken to hospital after being hit with pepper spray, and three police officers were also reported injured, according to Albanian state television RTSh.

The protests, which began in late May, are directed against plans to build a luxury hotel and resort on the island of Sazan and adjacent coastal land, a nature preserve that serves as a habitat for flamingos and other species. The project is being developed by Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, with partners including Qatari brothers and an Albanian conglomerate. The Atlantic reports that an investment committee led by Prime Minister Edi Rama gave preliminary approval to the plans about two months after Donald Trump's reelection in 2024. The demonstrations have been dubbed the "Flamingo Revolution" by participants.

The scale of the protests has varied over time. The Atlantic reports that "hundreds of thousands have joined daily protests" and describes the movement as "one of the country's largest social mobilizations since the end of Communist rule 35 years ago." AFP journalists on the ground reported that until mid-July, thousands were protesting each night in Tirana, but that more recently the marches have been more dispersed. Thursday's protest was described by SVT's reporter as the most intense yet, with police heavily deployed from early morning.

The project has become a symbol of broader grievances. According to The Atlantic, writer and dissident Fatos Lubonja, who was imprisoned during Albania's Communist dictatorship, said the demonstrations reflect "accumulated frustration with Albanian politicians who have failed to give the country a solid economic foundation" and are opposed to "government decisions made in secret, for the benefit of the few, motivated by money linked to oligarchs." SVT's correspondent noted that many in the country are dissatisfied with corruption. The protests also include demands for Prime Minister Rama's resignation, according to AFP.

The immediate trigger for Thursday's escalation was a planned parliamentary vote on a €4 million subsidy for a 4 July concert by Kanye West, which the government requested to prevent cancellation of the event. Many protesters viewed the subsidy as a provocation, according to AFP. The concert subsidy vote, which had not been confirmed, was expected to take place on Thursday. The protests continue, with demonstrators vowing to maintain pressure against the resort project and the government's handling of the issue.