Citizen-led protests against the government’s controversial development project in the protected area of Zvërnec entered their ninth consecutive day on Monday. Demonstrators turned out in high numbers in the capital, staging continuous marches and shouting anti-government slogans to demand the immediate cancellation of the project.
The mobilization began at 6:00 PM at Skanderbeg Square, where a growing crowd formed before launching a march down Dëshmorët e Kombit Boulevard toward the Prime Minister’s Office, keeping the pressure firmly on the executive branch.
Student Blocs Infuse New Energy and Grievances
Monday’s rally saw a significant surge in youth participation. Massive student contingents joined the environmental and civic groups, explicitly linking the defense of Zvërnec to broader, deep-seated frustrations with the government’s domestic policies.
Students marched behind a prominent, highly visible banner reading: “You still haven’t settled your accounts with the students,” signaling that the protests are expanding into a wider hub for youth and student dissatisfaction.
Calls for Rama’s Resignation and Threats of Escalation
Throughout the march to the Prime Minister’s Office, the atmosphere remained highly charged. Protesters chanted synchronized, nationalist and anti-government slogans, including “Albania belongs to Albanians, not to traitors,” while frequently calling for the immediate resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama.
[Zvërnec Protest Anatomy: Day 9]
• Starting Point: Skanderbeg Square (18:00) ──> Destination: Prime Minister's Office.
• Core Grievance: Preservation of Zvërnec's protected ecosystem against development.
• Added Dynamics: Large-scale student blocs joining with systemic economic/educational grievances.
• Ultimate Demand: Immediate project cancellation and the resignation of PM Edi Rama.
The ongoing unrest stems from a growing civil society backlash against planned large-scale tourism or infrastructure developments in Zvërnec—a pristine lagoon and pine-forested coastal area near Vlora known for its fragile ecosystem and rich biodiversity. Organizers have firmly stated that the daily rallies will not stop, warning the administration of a massive escalation in civil disobedience across the country if their environmental and structural demands continue to be ignored by the cabinet.
