Thousands of Albanians took to the streets of Tirana on Saturday, June 20, 2026, demanding government change amid mounting accusations of corruption. The protests, which began in May, have broadened beyond initial opposition to a multi-billion-dollar luxury resort project to encompass wider anti-government sentiment.
Protesters are calling for the resignation of Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama and opposition leader Sali Berisha, holding both parties responsible for approximately thirty years of corruption since the end of the communist regime in 1991. Former Albanian ambassador to the U.S. and the United Nations, Agim Nesho, stated that the protests are not directed against foreign investors like Jared Kushner, whose firm Affinity Partners is involved in developing resort properties. Nesho emphasized that these investments, valued at $4 billion, are expected to create jobs and opportunities for young Albanians.
Resort Project Controversy
The protests initially focused on a luxury resort plan involving Jared Kushner's business partners. The project aims to add around 10,000 hotel rooms and villas to Albania's coast. One proposed location is Sazan Island, a former Soviet military base, while the other is in Zvërnec, near the Vjosa-Narta protected landscape, an area noted for its monk seal and flamingo habitats and sea turtle nesting sites.
Agim Nesho clarified that the investment is planned for private land whose protected status was revoked years prior by the Rama government. He suggested that global investors might demonstrate greater environmental care than the current administration and its associated business interests.
Prime Minister Rama's government has defended the resort project, issuing a statement asserting that Sazan Island is state property and not for sale. The government also stated that the Zvërnec area is privately owned and that claims regarding the revocation of protected status labels to facilitate investment are false. The statement further indicated that the project would undergo an in-depth Environmental Impact Assessment and that the chosen locations have no connection to the Vjosa Delta.
However, on Wednesday, the European Parliament urged the Albanian government to halt construction on protected lands and called for a moratorium on further permits and construction in such areas. A source familiar with the project indicated that some information circulating about the development has been fabricated.
Government Response and Public Sentiment
Eric Czuleger, Editor-in-Chief of The Under Report, who has been documenting the protests, told Fox News Digital that Prime Minister Rama's government has faced unprecedented public pressure. Czuleger noted that Rama initially denied the protests' scale, later characterizing them as a "hybrid war" instigated by Iran and Russia.
Asher Abehsera, Chair of Sazan Real Estate Development LLC, stated that the company has worked for four years to create a world-class destination emphasizing thoughtful design, environmental stewardship, and economic opportunity, aiming to celebrate Albania's natural beauty and create jobs.
Czuleger also noted a sense of apprehension among Albanians, fearing both inaction and potentially negative outcomes should the government change. He suggested that sustained patience, pressure, and clear articulation of the movement's goals are necessary for significant change.
Albanian actor and artist Florjan Binaj described the current protests as the largest in Albania since 1991, highlighting the powerful atmosphere and the protesters' demand for Rama's resignation to allow for an alternative government. Nesho added that the protests stem from the perception of billions in corruption within a government perceived as unaccountable, making negotiation with Rama difficult and advocating for government resignation and early elections under international supervision.