Mass protests that have been ongoing in Albania for the past two weeks have changed the country's political agenda.
Modern.az reports that "Bloomberg" has published information about this.
According to the publication, thousands of people in the capital Tirana initially protested against the construction of elite resorts on Sazan Island and Zvernec Peninsula, but the protests later took on the character of a broad public movement accompanied by demands for a change of government.
Protesters believe that the government is endangering the country's natural resources and ecological balance for the sake of large investment projects.
According to the information, one of the projects causing dissatisfaction is a $5 billion investment project by Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump. The project envisages the construction of tourism facilities on Sazan Island and Zvernec Peninsula.
One of the main features of the protests is that they are not led by any political party or leader. The protests are mainly coordinated through social networks.
Every evening, students, environmentalists, specialists from various fields, and ordinary citizens gather in Skanderbeg Square in Tirana and march towards Prime Minister Edi Rama's office.
The main demands of the protesters are:
-Stopping construction projects on Sazan Island and Zvernec Peninsula;
-Abolition of concessions for strategic investors;
-Strengthening the protection of specially protected natural areas.
The events have also attracted the attention of the European Union. The European Commission has warned Albania that violations of environmental standards could negatively affect the country's EU membership process.
Despite this, the Albanian government has stated that it does not intend to abandon the projects. Official Tirana emphasizes that these investments are important for the development of tourism and the country's economy.
