Albanian PM Edi Rama confronts nationwide protests demanding his resignation over Zvërnec resort plan

Since late June 2023, thousands of Albanians have gathered in Tirana for daily protests against Prime Minister Edi Rama and his government. Demonstrators march from Skënderbej Square to the Prime Minister’s Office, chanting for a “new Albania” and reading a list of five core demands drafted by former KLA fighter Dritan Goxhaj. The demands call for Rama’s immediate resignation, the creation of a twelve‑month, non‑partisan technical government, constitutional reforms limiting any prime minister to two mandates, and the repeal of recent changes to the protected‑areas law, the cultural‑heritage law, the “Package of the Mountains” and the strategic‑investment framework that would allow luxury resorts at Zvërnec.

Rama has responded by sharing a citizen’s video on Facebook and accusing Goxhaj of “Iran‑linked” propaganda, while opposition leader Sali Berisha has denounced the projects in Livadh and Gjipe as secret land grabs. International media, including CNN and European outlets, have highlighted the protests, noting the involvement of the Albanian diaspora and the potential impact on the ruling Socialist Party. A future rally is planned for 4 July, and protest leaders say the movement will continue until their demands are met.