The resort is planned for a protected lagoon and island near Vlore, and the government removed environmental protection without public consultation. Protesters say it is no longer only about flamingos but about healthcare, education and people getting poorer, and they see another get-rich-quick scheme backed by the whole political class.

A reported $4.7 billion, four and a half square kilometre resort with more than a thousand villas and townhouses, 1,400 apartments, a casino, a golf course, a water park and a marina for super yachts. Rama's government designated Kushner's company a strategic investor to cut red tape.

In 1996 companies like Vifa promised 8% a month and rivals up to 47%. By some reports two-thirds of adults invested, and more than half of GDP was in the schemes. When they collapsed in early 1997, Vlore came under mob rule, army depots were looted and Italy led a UN peacekeeping mission.

Albania had no visitors, citizens could not leave, and TV carried only communist propaganda, so people built giant homemade aerials to watch Italian channels across 75 km of the Adriatic, learning Italian from TV. Hoxha ruled for 41 years until his death in 1985.

The lagoon next to Vlore is a key nesting spot for flamingos migrating between Europe and Africa, and habitat for loggerhead turtles and monk seals, so the protest movement against the development became known as the Flamingo Revolution. Dua Lipa has spoken in support of it.