Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama Denies Corruption Links to Kushner‑Trump Project

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama rejected recent accusations that he is involved in a corruption network linked to an investment plan in southern Albania promoted by Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump. He told the Financial Times, “It’s not my job to prove I’m not the godfather; it’s theirs to prove I am,” and insisted the project is fully legal and unrelated to ongoing investigations of businessmen suspected of drug trafficking and money‑laundering.

Rama argued that the protests against the development are being fueled by foreign actors, naming Iran among those allegedly influencing the dissent. He noted that Albania hosts around 3 000 members of the exiled Iranian opposition group MEK and has previously faced cyber‑attacks attributed to Iranian hackers.

The prime minister said the heightened activity of the prosecutor’s office reflects a more effective fight against organized crime, not a rise in corruption, and affirmed that the “Albania 2030” tourism and infrastructure strategy will continue despite opposition.