Plans for a Trump family-linked resort spark protests in Albania
NPR • • general
Key Points:
- A large coastal development project in Albania linked to Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump faces increasing protests due to environmental concerns and opposition to Prime Minister Edi Rama's government.
- The project involves building luxury hotels, apartments, villas, and a marina on the Narta Lagoon nature reserve and the nearby uninhabited island of Sazan, both ecologically sensitive areas.
- Environmental activists highlight the destruction of protected habitats, including migratory bird areas, and have staged protests featuring symbolic pink flamingos to raise awareness.
- The Albanian government supports the €4 billion investment, viewing it as key to boosting high-end tourism and advancing EU membership ambitions, despite ongoing legal disputes over land ownership.
- Similar Kushner-linked developments in Serbia have faced legal challenges and collapsed, raising concerns about the project's viability and transparency in Albania.