Albania's Flamingo Revolution: Dua Lipa backs protests against Trump‑Kushner luxury resort
In Albania, activists have formed the “Flamingo Revolution” to block a proposed luxury resort on the protected Sazan Island. The project, marketed by Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, is valued at about €1.4 billion (roughly $4.6 billion) and would cover 1,400 ha of coastal wetlands that host thousands of flamingos.
The Albanian government lowered the area's protected status to permit construction, prompting protests that have drawn hundreds of demonstrators to Tirana daily and calls for Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation. The EU and international conservation groups have condemned the downgrade as a breach of biodiversity commitments.
Pop star Dua Lipa, whose parents are Kosovo‑Albanian, voiced support in her “Service95 Book Club” podcast, describing the protesters as “inspiring” and condemning the government's circumvention of environmental safeguards. Legal scrutiny also intensified after Albanian prosecutors issued an arrest warrant for Miami‑based businessman Artur Shehu, accusing him of land‑record fraud and drug‑smuggling linked to the project.
The movement continues to pressure authorities for a transparent, population‑backed solution.