Albanians are fighting for nature. "The whole political class is the problem."

Since mid-May, protests have not disappeared from the streets of Albanian cities. The spark was the issue of the nature reserve in the lagoon of the Vjosa River, on which (and on the nearby Sazan Island) a luxury resort for elites is to be built by Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner. The Albanian government eagerly agreed to this, politely changing the relevant laws.

Flamingos migrate across the lagoon, and they have become a symbol of resistance against the destruction of ecologically valuable areas. However, it quickly turned out that Vjosa is only the tip of the iceberg, as Albanian nature has been devastated for years by wild development, uncontrolled privatization (especially visible along the coast), and illegal waste dumps. Local protests to defend the flamingo habitat have turned into mass demonstrations demanding a change of the entire political class.

I asked Fatma Paja, an activist and artist involved in the Flamingo Revolution, about what exactly the protesters want, what kind of Albania they dream of, and how environmental issues connect with others.

Adam Sokołowski: How did you become one of the leaders of such a decentralized protest?

Fatma Paja: I am not a protest leader. I am a simple citizen, activist, and artist who participates in various ways. This movement has no leaders because it belongs to all citizens. People of different backgrounds, professions, and political beliefs unite because we believe in a common goal: stopping the sale of Albania and defending our right to live in freedom in our own country. What unites us much more strongly than the issues that divide us.

The Flamingo Revolution was initiated by the case of Sazan Island and the Vjosa-Narta Nature Reserve, which the Albanian government wanted to sell to the Trump family. How deep does corruption go, and how openly does the government practice it?

The turning point came when one protester in Narta was brutally dragged and attacked by private security in front of the police – an institution that was supposed to protect citizens. This incident was the drop that filled the cup of patience.

For years, people in Albania have lived in poverty, with corruption and an increasingly authoritarian government that distributes public assets to oligarchs. Laws are being changed to serve private interests, while local communities have no voice.

In recent years, we have witnessed systematic privatization of public space. I say it was “distributed,” not “sold,” because in many cases public goods were actually handed over to a narrow circle of powerful businessmen.

The Vjosa-Narta Nature Reserve is one of the last large ecosystems on the Albanian coast that has not yet been destroyed by mass construction and concrete development.

Shortly after Donald Trump’s second victory, his daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner visited Albania. After this visit, the government changed the Law on Protected Areas. Barely two weeks later, reports appeared that Sazan Island would be “developed” by Ivanka Trump and Kushner. The sequence of events indicates a deliberate political process in which laws are changed to serve oligarchic interests. All of this happened without any transparency, cloaked in lies.

We are talking about law changes without any real consultations with local communities, ignoring environmental experts, and without public approval. Similar examples include the Law on Strategic Investments and the so-called Mountain Package – both transfer public funds into private hands under extremely favorable conditions.

People understand this. They have understood it for years. The difference now is that they have finally found each other on the streets and realized they face the same problem.

The protests have been ongoing since May 16. What was the government’s reaction? Are you being repressed, surveilled, subjected to disinformation?

We are in the 52nd day of protests. We are experiencing intimidation, threats, and pressure. Activists and protesters have been detained by police and by people posing as officers in different parts of the country. The goal is clear: to instill fear. But the effects have been the opposite. It only strengthened our determination.

The prime minister’s response was telling. Instead of listening to the protesters, he called them agents of Greece, Iran, Russia – everything except ordinary Albanians defending their country. The prime minister continues to insult protesters, also in international media. He has singled out certain individuals for public attacks and media trials. It is extraordinary to see a prime minister attacking individual citizens instead of addressing the concerns of the entire movement.

These attacks only increased anger. People recognize this rhetoric. It is old, worn-out, and disconnected from reality.

What are the main demands of the protesters?

Our demands are deeply interconnected. We want the abolition of three destructive laws, the withdrawal from this entire project, and the resignation of those responsible for pushing it forward.

These demands are not only about the environment. They also concern corruption, public space, democracy, healthcare, education, and social justice.

Injustice in one area ultimately becomes widespread. When public land is stolen, laws are rewritten for private business, and citizens lose their voice, the entire society is affected.

What kind of Albania do you want?

We want an Albania where people can live normal lives. Where public space belongs to everyone. Where protected areas are truly protected, not only for us but also for future generations. Where people can access their own coastline without barriers and exclusion.

We want schools where children can learn safely, hospitals where we are properly treated, reliable public transportation, running water, and electricity. Albania is a naturally beautiful country rich in resources. There is no reason to deny citizens a decent life.

That’s why we protest every day. Not because we have given up on this country – but because we refuse to give up.

Do you think Edi Rama’s times are ending? What will happen next?

We know that democracy is not built overnight, not even in a month or a year.

We are trying to take the first step toward ending a political system that has exhausted itself. And replacing it with people who will truly care about the country’s future.

It won’t be easy, but it’s not impossible. That’s why we appear on the streets every day. We are very determined and will see this through to the end.

How will you reverse years of privatization and environmental destruction?

The first step is to stop these destructive projects before more damage is done.

With better laws, functioning institutions, and an independent judiciary, many things can be corrected over time. The damage done to our coastline, cities, and natural heritage is enormous. But there is still time to reclaim public space and give it back to the people.

Are you not afraid that only faces will change and the old system will remain?

People are much more aware today than they were a decade ago. Albanians are increasingly mobilizing around public issues. This civic awareness is our best guarantee that changes will not be merely superficial. The better organized society is, the harder it will be for any future government to return to these destructive practices.

Do you think people care about nature?

More than ever before.

Of course, many Albanians are fighting for basic economic survival. And when people have to worry about feeding their families, environmental issues seem secondary. But awareness has grown tremendously in recent years. People increasingly understand that destroying the natural environment is not something separate from their daily lives.

What’s beautiful about this movement is that people connect their social and economic problems with environmental ones. They understand that the land does not belong only to us but also to future generations.

After years of dictatorship, many people have developed a complicated relationship with public space. Today, we are finally breaking that mentality and realizing that by defending what belongs to us, we are also defending ourselves.

Are protesters able to force change if Edi Rama remains in power?

I am aware that this prime minister, like many politicians before him, is closely linked to the interests of oligarchs who have taken over our public institutions and exploited the country’s resources for years. At the same time, the persistence of protests and increasing pressure from members of the European Parliament and other international actors are creating a new reality from which Rama will not be able to escape indefinitely.

We are not only demanding his resignation. We demand accountability. We want both him and opposition leader Sali Berisha to be held responsible for the destruction, corruption, and abuses that have shaped Albania’s political life for decades.

One of the most popular slogans at these protests is “RnB & BnB” – “Rama in prison, Berisha in prison.” Because for us, the problem is not just one person. The problem is the entire political class that has held Albania hostage for far too long.

Rama knows that when he loses power, he will face the consequences of his actions. That’s why he does everything possible to stay in office. But that will only delay him, not escape him.

How long will you keep fighting?

Until the end.

Not only until Rama loses power, because this is not a fight to remove one politician. It is a long-term struggle for democracy, accountability, and dignity. We will continue to oppose injustice wherever we see it. Democracy is not something you win once, but something you defend every day.

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Fatma Paja – visual artist and activist from Albanian Belsh. Through her art, she expresses opposition to corruption, injustice, and the destruction of Albanian nature.

The post Albanians fight for nature. “The problem is the entire political class” first appeared on Krytyka Polityczna.