Thousands of protesters gathered in Tirana on Saturday to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama [1].
The demonstrations signal a growing public backlash against the government's environmental and land-use policies. Protesters said the administration is prioritizing foreign luxury investments over the preservation of Albania's natural heritage.
Dubbed the “Pink Flamingo” or “Flamingo Revolution,” the movement targets a luxury holiday-resort project linked to the Trump family [1, 3]. The proposed development is located in a protected area of southwestern Albania, sparking accusations that the government is selling out the country's resources [1, 3].
Demonstrators marched through the capital's streets chanting “Albania is not for sale” [1, 3]. The timing of the latest rally coincided with the 62nd birthday of Prime Minister Rama [1, 2].
Reports on the duration of the unrest vary. Some sources said Albanians have taken to the streets for 35 nights in a row [3], while other reports suggest the protests have occurred for 20 consecutive days [4].
Despite the conflicting numbers, the scale of the crowds in Tirana indicates a sustained period of civil disobedience. The protesters continue to call for the immediate removal of Rama from office as the conflict over the protected southwestern zone intensifies [3].
“Albania is not for sale”
The 'Flamingo Revolution' represents a intersection of environmental activism and anti-corruption sentiment in Albania. By linking a specific luxury development to a high-profile international figure like Trump, the protesters have transformed a local land-use dispute into a broader referendum on Prime Minister Rama's governance and the perceived commodification of national sovereignty.
