Thousands of Albanians marched through central Tirana for a 41st consecutive evening on July 10, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama and calling for the removal of the country's entire political establishment, in a protest movement that has grown far beyond its environmental origins.

Gathering shortly after 7pm in the city’s central Skanderbeg Square, demonstrators carrying Albanian flags and banners marched to the prime minister's office, where speeches, music, drumming, whistles and chants continued for more than two hours before protesters walked through the capital's streets.

The protesters repeated demands they have made throughout the past six weeks, including the resignation of Rama's government, the formation of a technical administration and the replacement of what they call the country's old political class.

Among the loudest chants were calls of “Revolution” and “Rama in prison, [opposition leader Sali] Berisha in prison", reflecting frustration not only with the government but also with Albania's traditional opposition parties.

Many of the protesters gather night after night, while others come as often as they can, with larger numbers turning out at weekends.

“I’m here because our prime minister has sold the country," one woman told IntelliNews as protesters gathered on Skenderbeg Square.

A member of Albania’s diaspora said she had returned from Florence with her daughter to take part in the protests.

“This is the first step, and the most important thing is that it is in the right direction,” she said.

"I think things will change for our daughters, if not for us," she added.

Several protesters stressed that the demonstrations are peaceful, blaming a handful of violent incidents on paid provocateurs. They also highlighted the coming together of Christians and Muslims, old and young. Close to where demonstrators gathered, sheets of paper and crayons had been laid out for children to draw.

Clashes in Zvërnec

The protests, which organisers have dubbed the "Flamingo Revolution", began on May 30 near the village of Zvërnec after environmental activists tried to halt construction linked to a luxury tourism development near the Vjosa-Narta wetlands, one of the Mediterranean's most important protected coastal ecosystems and a habitat for hundreds of bird species including flamingos. The development has been linked to US President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner through his investment firm Affinity Partners.

Since the initial clashes between protesters and private security guards in Zvërnec, demonstrations have spread to Tirana and other cities including Vlora, Durres and Korca, while members of Albania's large diaspora have organised solidarity protests abroad.

What began as opposition to a single development project has evolved into a broader movement against corruption, environmental degradation, economic inequality and weak governance.

Arben Kola, a tour guide and environmental activist who has campaigned on conservation and anti-corruption issues for more than a decade, said the movement had rapidly expanded beyond its original cause.

"First of all, it started because of the flamingos, the lagoon, Zvërnec and Sazan Island," he told IntelliNews.

"But after a few days it was clear that people on the street were not just there for the lagoon and the flamingos. They were against corruption.

"So the revolution of the flamingos has become a revolution of eagles," he added. "The flamingos teach us how to fly together, but the eagles teach us how to protect Albania because they fly very high above the sky."

Kola argued that the protests had already achieved significant results by drawing international attention to the situation in Albania.

"On the international stage this has become big news," he said. More important than international recognition, however, had been the psychological impact inside Albania. "What we have achieved is that a lot of people have killed the fear. The fear was inherited from communism and then reinstalled by what I call the neo-communist oligarchy state or narco-state. At least everybody is not scared any more."

He pointed to the presence of women and children as evidence that demonstrators were determined to maintain peaceful tactics. "You can see kids and women here," he said. "Even though there were groups, sometimes financed to cause trouble or create clashes with the police or the government, we have managed to keep it peaceful because this is the only way we can succeed."

European scrutiny

The protests have coincided with growing scrutiny from European politicians. Environmental organisations and members of the European Parliament argued during a webinar on July 6 that the project inside the Vjosa-Narta Protected Landscape could establish a precedent for large-scale construction in Albania's protected coastal areas following legislative changes adopted by the parliament.

The dispute has become increasingly significant for Albania's European Union membership ambitions because environmental protection forms part of Chapter 27 of the accession negotiations covering climate and environmental standards.

Public anger intensified on July 10 following the government's decision to allocate around €4mn in support for a Kanye West concert planned in Tirana. Critics argue the money should instead be spent on public services and other pressing needs in one of Europe's poorer countries, while the government says the event will promote tourism, attract international attention and strengthen Albania's events industry.