47 days of protest in Albania against a politics for the super-rich
JVL Introduction
There has been remarkably little coverage in the mainstream media on the 47 days of peaceful protest (so far) by large numbers of people in Albania. Initially protesting the sale of protected wildlife land – a nature reserve – to Jared Kushner (the same man who plans to turn Gaza into a holiday resort) and Ivanka Trump, it is now also a protest against government and political leaders, against corruption and for a country run for ordinary people.
I am posting here as we are internationalist but also because even some of my politically active friends, especially those not on social media, are barely, if at all, aware of this impressive movement. 30 years after the ending of Soviet style communism in Albania, people want better than, eg a law from 2024 that allows construction in nature reserves, if it is for 5 star development! People are not prepared to tolerate being “sold out for the benefit of the super-rich”. Albanians are demanding that politics offers them something better and some young people who had emigrated are flying back to take part in the protest and be part of shaping a future for Albania.
Seemingly without leaders or a clear political platform there may be lessons for us all?
You may also want to read an earlier article by Lea Ypi who wrote the award winning memoir Free about experiencing the transition from communism as a child.
This article was originally published by The Guardian on Wed 8 Jul 2026. Read the original here.
The Guardian view on the flamingo revolution: Albanians are standing up for their rights, as well as for nature
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Journalism is not what it was and there is an awful lot to cover with fewer journalists of calibre but it is a disgrace this has had so little coverage. This was really interesting , especially about Rama and also the Conservative opposition. Like Ukraine’s people, Albania’s people have been through so much in their history -including the one of the most oppressive regimes of modern times under Enver Hoxha. Trump’s family remind me of Don Corleone’s smooth operators sent to Vegas in the Godfather. Kushner et al seem to have a penchant for wanting to digest other people’s countries and other peoples’ land , for tacky ‘real estate’ plans serving neither animals, nature or people who live there. A few letters to the Editors of the Times, Telegraph and Guardian to chivvy them in order.