TIRANA (Albania), July 05 (AFP): Tens of thousands rallied on Saturday in the Albanian capital Tirana in the largest protest since a movement against a resort linked to US President Donald Trump's family began.
The 35th consecutive daily protest was the biggest since rallies started in late May against the planned construction of a luxury hotel linked to Trump's daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner in a nature reserve on the Balkan country's coast, AFP reporters said.
Opposition to the project has become a flashpoint for frustrations over perceived corruption, with protesters calling for Prime Minister Edi Rama to step down over what they describe as a lack of transparency.
The movement was dubbed the Flamingo Revolution as the pink birds migrate to a nature reserve where the project is planned.
"What began as the 'Flamingo Revolution' has sparked widespread public discontent," protester Alketa Ademi told AFP.
"Lack of transparency, arrogance-enough is enough! The prime minister has to leave," the 40-year-old said.
Protesters say the estimated $4.6-billion luxury hotel development slated for construction in Zvernec poses a risk to the environment and to a nearby lagoon critical to migrating birds.
Developers also hope to transform the uninhabited island of Sazan-once a secret communist military base-into a glitzy tourist destination.
The protests are held daily in Tirana, while on Thursday morning for a second time this week, demonstrators gathered outside parliament to confront lawmakers and block entry to the building.
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