(This article was written by Adelle Nazarian and appeared in Newsmax. Strengthening Rule of Law Could Raise Albania’s Global Stature)
The ‘Flamingo Revolution’: A Resort Fight Became a Battle for Democracy
Albania finds itself at a crossroads as the “Flamingo Revolution” transforms from environmental protests into a defining moment for the country’s democratic future and European aspirations.
What began as opposition to Jared Kushner-linked resort development on Sazan Island and near the protected Vjosa-Narta wetlands has evolved into a comprehensive challenge to Prime Minister Edi Rama’s governance and Albania’s trajectory toward EU membership.
The protests have exposed fundamental tensions between rapid economic development and environmental protection, between expedited decision-making and democratic transparency.
They have also become a referendum on Prime Minister Edi Rama, who is backing the Kushner-linked resort as part of his push to market Albania as a high-end tourism destination. Rama has vigorously defended the project as a crucial economic opportunity, vowing to proceed despite escalating opposition.
Consequently, protesters increasingly target not only the specific resort proposal but Rama’s overall governance approach, particularly the expedited approval processes that enabled the project’s advancement without adequate public consultation.
Amid the street protests, attention has shifted to Sali Berisha, the 81-year-old leader of the opposition Democratic Party and Rama’s primary political rival.
As the Flamingo Revolution gained momentum, Berisha announced on June 11 that the United States had lifted a 2021 entry ban imposed over corruption allegations, following what he described as “a thorough review” by the State Department.
Berisha characterized the policy reversal as the U.S. administration “correcting” an “unfair decision,” suggesting that high-profile corruption accusations against Albanian political figures do not always withstand rigorous examination.
The contested nature of corruption allegations in Albania becomes particularly evident in the case of Erion Veliaj, Tirana’s mayor and a prominent Socialist Party figure. Albania’s Special Anti-Corruption and Organized Crime Structure (SPAK) has held Veliaj in detention since February 2025 under conditions that have raised substantial due process concerns.
Among 18 defendants in the case, he alone was denied bail, while his legal team received less than half a day to review a 26,400-page investigative file.
During his imprisonment, political opponents attempted to remove him from office, an effort ultimately rejected by Albania’s Constitutional Court as unconstitutional. SPAK has cited Veliaj’s lobbying activities, entirely lawful conduct, as justification for continued detention, suggesting an overzealous and potentially selective prosecutorial approach similar to earlier allegations against Berisha.
Before his detention, Veliaj served not merely as Tirana’s mayor but as the leading candidate to succeed Rama as head of the Socialist Party.
Despite facing no convictions, his continued imprisonment has prevented him from engaging in the political activities that established him as one of Albania’s most popular politicians.
Born in 1979, Veliaj discovered evangelical Christianity at age 13 while volunteering at an orphanage near the U.S. Embassy in Tirana.
There, he translated for American missionaries from Campus Crusade for Christ at Tirana Baptist Church and later became involved with Grace Community.
These experiences connected him with American Christian networks that emphasized humanitarian service, civic engagement, and anti-corruption activism — relationships that remained influential throughout his transition from volunteer work to civil society leadership and eventually national politics.
During the 1999 Kosovo War, these same networks propelled Veliaj into his first major humanitarian role, working with Michigan’s International Aid in Kosovo’s refugee camps before pursuing studies at Grand Valley State University.
His faith trajectory led him to found the anti-corruption youth movement MJAFT!, serve as a government minister, and ultimately become Tirana’s mayor in 2015.
At first glance, Veliaj’s religious background and anti-corruption activism might appear inconsistent with his Socialist Party affiliation.
However, Albania’s political landscape defies conventional ideological frameworks.
The Socialist Party has largely embraced market-oriented reforms and Western integration, while the Democratic Party has often advocated expanded state involvement and relied on traditional patronage networks.
With Ambassador Eric Wendt’s recent confirmation as ambassador, Washington has an opportunity to expand its focus beyond anti-corruption prosecutions toward strengthening rule of law, democratic accountability, and due process protections.
While combating corruption remains essential, it cannot undermine fundamental democratic principles. Foreign-funded institutions like SPAK raise legitimate concerns when prosecutors exercise extraordinary powers with insufficient oversight, particularly when they can de facto sideline elected officials before establishing guilt.
In this regard, U.S. policymakers should carefully consider the Venice Commission’s concerns: suspending or replacing mayors absent clear legal justification risks undermining local self-government, local autonomy, and voters’ democratic will.
Since Amb. Wendt has said he wants to improve Albania’s investment climate, Tirana should strengthen the rule of law and due process rights — policy that would help make Albania a much more attractive place for investment.
Adelle Nazarian is a Senior Fellow at the Gold Institute for International Strategy, a Washington D.C. based foreign policy and defense think tank.
