After gathering in Skanderbeg Square, protesters marched along the Martyrs of the Nation Boulevard towards the prime minister’s office, where they delivered speeches.

They called for the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama, the removal of what they described as the country’s “old political establishment,” the repeal of amendments to the law on protected areas and changes to the electoral law.

Organisers said the protests would continue in the coming days and that they would not back down until their demands were met.

The demonstrations initially began in opposition to the proposed tourism investment in Zvernec, but the protesters’ demands have since expanded to include wider political and institutional issues.

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As in previous protests, demonstrators gathered in Skanderbeg Square before marching along Martyrs of the Nation Boulevard towards the Prime Minister’s Office, voicing opposition to the project as well as concerns over policies affecting protected areas and strategic investments.

One protester also criticised the new “Pasqyra Albania” digital platform unveiled by Rama after a cabinet meeting in Pogradec earlier today, calling it another attempt by the government to shift responsibility for the country’s problems onto the state administration.

“We reject it because ‘Pasqyra Albania’ is nothing more than a rebranding of the ‘Albania We Want’ co-governance platform,” the protester said.

Demonstrators reiterated demands for Rama’s resignation, the removal of the country’s “old political class”, repeal of amendments to the protected areas law and changes to electoral legislation.

The protests, which began over the environmental impact of the planned tourism project in Zvernec, have broadened to include political and institutional demands, as well as concerns over corruption, employment opportunities and youth emigration.

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Protesters called for the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama and his government, while also criticising the political establishment and the government’s policies.

The rally was also joined by members of the Albanian diaspora, some of whom travelled from abroad to take part. Participants called for political change and voiced support for Albania.

Activist Sidorela Vatnikaj said the protests would continue until Rama resigned and a new political model was established.

“Albanians are demanding the government’s resignation,” Vatnikaj said, arguing that the political and economic situation had forced many people to leave the country.

“This political class has stolen from us and forced us to leave the country. But we are here because we have a new political dream, in which Albanian society takes responsibility for its own future,” she said.

Vatnikaj said protesters had found strength in one another and urged citizens to become the “guarantors” of political change, saying Albania could no longer be ruled by “thieves, oligarchs or crime.”

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Speaking at the Future Investment Initiative (FII) forum in Rome, Italy, during a discussion with CNN correspondent Eleni Giokos, Rama said the local community where the project is expected to be developed largely backs the investment.

“The community where the project will be implemented wants the project,” Rama said. “What you are seeing is not exactly what is happening on the ground.”

Rama highlighted environmental measures taken by his government, including decade-long moratoriums on logging and hunting, which he said had contributed to a threefold increase in Albania’s bird population.

Addressing criticism of the project, Rama argued that online opposition had been amplified by the involvement of investor Jared Kushner and his links to U.S. President Donald Trump, attracting attention and reactions far beyond Albania.

He said social media platforms have been flooded with false information, including videos from protests in other countries that were allegedly presented as footage from Albania, as well as automated online accounts seeking to influence the debate.

Rama also alleged that Iran has played a role in online campaigns targeting Albania, reiterating previous government accusations that Tehran has conducted cyberattacks against the country in recent years.

He warned that the spread of disinformation was undermining democratic institutions and public trust across Europe and the wider democratic world.

Rama said democracies should reconsider the assumption that unrestricted dissemination of content is simply an extension of freedom of speech, arguing that modern propaganda tools can be used to spread falsehoods and manipulate public opinion.

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Protesters assembled at around 7 p.m. in Tirana’s Skanderbeg Square and initially announced they would march toward the Prime Minister’s office, but instead headed to parliament, where a plenary session was under way and Prime Minister Edi Rama was present.

Chanting slogans including “Resign your mandates,” “Your time is up,” “Parliament of crime” and “Rama resign,” the protesters positioned themselves outside parliament building.

After the parliamentary session ended, the group marched toward the Prime Minister’s office.

Passing the headquarters of the main opposition Democratic Party, protesters also chanted “Rama to prison,” “Berisha to prison” and “Sold-out opposition,” prompting a brief verbal confrontation with a group of opposition supporters gathered outside the building.

“We do not give up. Albanians have had enough of this,” one protester said. “No tower can replace a family, no concession can replace a child leaving the country. No investment is worth more than a lit home. They have power, but we have Albania.”

Protesters have put forward five key demands: the resignation of the Prime Minister; repeal of the legal framework governing strategic investors; repeal of the so-called “Mountain Package”; cancellation of amendments to the law on protected areas; and repeal of changes to cultural heritage legislation.

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Citizens and civil society activists have also presented four additional demands, while voicing opposition to what they describe as the sale of national assets.

The protest began at 7:00 p.m., later than previous gatherings, which had typically started at 6:00 p.m. Organisers said the change was made due to high temperatures affecting the country.

After assembling in Skanderbeg Square in central Tirana, protesters marched along the Martyrs of the Nation Boulevard towards the Prime Minister’s Office.

Chanting slogans including “Revolution,” “Resignation” and “New Albania,” demonstrators gathered outside the government building, where they reiterated their demands.

As in previous days, protesters were expected to remain outside the Prime Minister’s Office for several hours before continuing a march through central streets of the capital to reiterate their messages.

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Speaking to European Union journalists, Rama said Albania’s investment policies are aligned with European Union environmental standards, stressing that no projects damaging the environment could proceed.

He described the planned Zvërnec and Sazan Island developments as part of a new tourism model based on sustainability, and said he was angered by criticism of what he described as a 4-billion-euro investment opportunity.

“This is a completely new world of tourism,” he said. “You cannot compete by ignoring nature.”

Rama dismissed protests linked to the project as being driven by false narratives, saying the government was working to compile and publish evidence of what he called coordinated disinformation.

“We will present facts, not stories,” he said.

He also alleged foreign involvement in information operations, singling out Iran, which he said had engaged in cyber activity against Albania in recent years.

“We know this from facts,” he said, referring to what he described as past cyberattacks on critical infrastructure.

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Speaking during a discussion with residents in the coastal village of Zvërnec, Rama said online narratives and subsequent protests were part of what he called a “deliberately engineered” campaign.

“This is something fabricated in a very, very malicious way,” he said, adding that Albania had been targeted for years by hostile cyber activity. He said authorities had built what he described as one of the strongest digital defence systems in Europe and are monitoring online activity linked to the issue.

Rama said there has been an unusual spike in social media activity linked to Albania at the onset of the controversy, which he said indicated coordinated amplification.

He also reiterated claims that Albania is facing a “hybrid war” involving Iran, arguing that disinformation campaigns were aimed at damaging the country’s international reputation.

The government head further alleged that fabricated narratives include claims circulating online that Palestinians would be relocated to Albania under a secret arrangement involving Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and businessman Jared Kushner. He dismissed the claims as false.

Rama said environmental concerns are also being used strategically to mobilise public opinion, citing what he described as international research on the use of climate and environmental issues to generate political instability in EU candidate countries.

A third factor, he said, is economic competition between countries in the region.

“We are now in a space of fierce competition,” Rama said, arguing that rival destinations were attempting to divert investment away from Albania.

He added that previous cases of major investments shifting to neighbouring countries has affected Albania’s tourism sector in the past, and said the Zvërnec project would not be allowed to leave the country.

“This investment will not leave Albania while I am here,” he said.

Rama also said the government has required revisions to the project to better align with environmental standards, including adjustments to distances from protected areas and safeguards for biodiversity.

He stressed that the approval process has been strict and based on technical conditions, rejecting claims that the investment lacked proper oversight.

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