Plans for a luxury resort in an ecologically sensitive area have set off more than a month of protests in Albania, where thousands have taken to the streets to oppose the megaproject backed by Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner. The Flamingo Revolution — named for its feared impact on migratory birds — began as an environmental protest but has now turned into anger at the entire political system, threatening to bring down the government of Prime Minister Edi Rama.
For more, we speak with two members of the left-wing Lëvizja Bashkë party who call the planned resort a “money laundering operation” that exposes a deeper rot in the country.
“The protests will go on, and the people are very determined,” says researcher and labor organizer Bora Mema.