Rama Defies Mass Protest Over Kushner Resort on Albanian Wetland

Prime Minister Edi Rama declared on June 13 that Albania will not abandon its planned Zvërnec luxury resort, valued at €1.6–€4 billion, despite thousands protesting in Tirana against the project. The resort, linked to Jared Kushner's private equity platform, would sit on a protected Adriatic wetland. Rama's government frames it as essential modernization and tourism infrastructure. Opponents argue the administration retroactively amended environmental laws to enable construction, potentially breaching EU standards Albania must meet for accession.