Overview
- Tens of thousands of Albanians have marched nightly in Tirana since late May to demand the cancellation of a planned luxury resort and the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama.
- Dua Lipa told her Service95 Book Club podcast this week that the protest movement is “inspiring” and raised concerns about the government changing laws to strip environmental protections without public consultation.
- Albanian anti‑corruption prosecutors have opened investigations into the December 2024 law change and disputed land deals, and courts have ordered multi‑million‑euro asset seizures tied to the project.
- The government has agreed to carry out an environmental impact assessment before construction, while conservation groups warn the plan would damage the Vjosa‑Narta delta and Sazan Island, home to flamingos, monk seals and other endangered species.
- European institutions have warned the dispute could affect Albania’s EU accession prospects, and the intensified international spotlight makes the project's legal and political fate likely to be decided in the coming weeks.