Albanian police clash with anti‑government protesters over coastal luxury project

Anti‑government demonstrations erupted in Tirana as hundreds gathered in front of the parliament to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama. The protests, dubbed the “Flamingo Revolution,” oppose a luxury coastal development linked to U.S. president Donald Trump’s son‑in‑law, Jared Kushner, which activists say threatens the habitat of protected flamingos.

Police responded with tear‑gas, pepper‑spray and water‑cannon fire. Twelve officers were injured and eighteen demonstrators were detained. Protesters threw stones, eggs and other objects, and some attempted to damage a police vehicle. Interior Minister Beshfort Lamalari condemned the violence, while demonstrators said the government had ignored their concerns.

The clash highlights growing environmental and political tension in Albania, as the government pushes the project as a transformative boost for tourism and EU membership prospects.