Brief clashes broke out in central Tirana on the evening of June 12 when supporters attending celebrations for the governing Socialist Party came into contact with anti-government demonstrators protesting outside the Prime Minister's Office, adding to tensions surrounding a campaign against a controversial tourism development project.

At the centre of the dispute are plans for high-end tourism investments in the Narta Lagoon area near the coastal village of Zvërnec and on Sazan Island, a former military installation off Albania's southern coast. The projects are linked to a company associated with Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump.

Police moved quickly to separate the groups and restore order after a scuffle erupted near the government building, where protesters had gathered to deliver speeches and demand the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama's administration.

The confrontations took place after celebrations marking the 35th anniversary of the founding of the Socialist Party concluded at Italia Square. According to local media reports, a group of party supporters later approached the nearby protest, where activists had been addressing the crowd through loudspeakers.

The two sides exchanged insults before the situation escalated into pushing and shoving. Video footage shared by local broadcasters showed police officers intervening as protesters and Socialist Party supporters jostled in the street.

One protest participant, speaking to local television station Top Channel, described scenes of confusion as dozens of people approached the demonstration. "They came running from that direction and started shouting all kinds of things," the protester said, estimating that around 30 to 40 people had entered the area. The participant also criticised the police response, claiming officers had initially failed to intervene effectively.

Organisers sought to calm the situation, urging demonstrators not to react to what they described as provocations. Earlier in the day, activists had appealed to participants to avoid confrontation with the Socialist Party anniversary events taking place elsewhere in the city.

After the disturbance subsided, protesters resumed their march through the streets of the capital. 

The demonstrations have become a daily occurrence in Tirana since the beginning of June. What began as a local environmental campaign opposing a planned luxury tourism project has developed into a wider anti-government movement, with participants calling for political reforms and the repeal of legislation they argue facilitates controversial developments.

The Albanian government has granted the investment "strategic investor" status, arguing that it will help attract foreign capital and strengthen the country's tourism industry. Rama has repeatedly defended the initiative, describing it as an opportunity to raise Albania's international profile and encourage large-scale international investment.

Environmental organisations and local campaigners, however, argue that the developments could damage one of Albania's most ecologically sensitive coastal regions. The Narta Lagoon, home to internationally significant wetlands and large populations of migratory birds, including flamingos, has become a focal point for opposition to the project.

Protest organisers have broadened their platform beyond the tourism development itself. They have issued five principal demands, including the resignation of the government, the repeal of the law regulating strategic investments, the cancellation of the so-called "Mountain Package" legislation, the reversal of recent amendments to the Law on Protected Areas, and the repeal of changes made to the Law on Cultural Heritage.

Public anger intensified after online videos appeared to show a security guard allegedly assaulting a protester near one of the proposed development sites. The footage circulated widely on social media and was cited by activists as evidence of increasing pressure on campaigners.

The controversy has also drawn the attention of Albania's anti-corruption authorities, which have opened an investigation into aspects of the projects, including issues related to land ownership and privatisation procedures.