Albanian Prime Minister Defends Luxury Development Amid Protests

Protests have emerged in Albania over plans to develop a luxury $1.4 billion resort on Sazan Island, backed by Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner. Prime Minister Edi Rama responded to the unrest on social media, asserting that the protests have been exaggerated by the media. He reported that participation peaked at 8,000 but stated that most protests attracted around 2,000 people, describing the situation as a distortion of local concerns.

Opponents of the project are worried about the environmental implications, citing potential harm to the island's rich biodiversity. Conservation groups and political opponents have criticized the lack of public consultation and transparency associated with the development. Aleksandr Trajce, of a leading conservation group, highlighted the absence of public documentation regarding permits.

Rama maintains that the project is crucial for Albania’s development as a tourist destination and has emphasized that no construction has started as the project awaits necessary approvals. He described the situation as fueled by a ‘hurricane of digital hysteria,’ dismissing the protests as disconnected from the reality of the plan. However, reports of construction activity, including the installation of a fence around the site, have intensified public dissent, with local individuals feeling excluded from their own land.

As the protests gain momentum, Rama reiterated his commitment to the project, which he asserts is still only a vision at this stage, stating, 'The reality is that there is no project yet.'