Thousands of Albanians descended on Tirana this week to voice fury over a luxury resort development backed by Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, as construction crews began fencing off the massive project site.
The $1.6 billion complex is rising in territory long recognized as one of the Mediterranean's most ecologically fragile zones. The area sustains roughly 200 bird species, among them flamingos and Dalmatian pelicans that depend on the habitat for survival.
Public rage escalated when builders started erecting concrete barriers topped with barbed wire around the development zone. Protesters took to the streets not just over environmental concerns but also over what they see as a lack of political transparency in how the deal was struck and approved.
The backlash reflects growing tension between economic development ambitions and environmental protection in the Balkans, where major foreign investment projects have faced resistance from local communities worried about ecological fallout and governance accountability.
Author James Rodriguez: "This kind of mega-project in a biodiversity hotspot without real public input is exactly the sort of deal that breeds legitimate anger, and Kushner's name only amplifies it."
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