There’s no planning permission yet, and Rama’s government says an environmental impact assessment has not even begun, but fencing and bulldozers have been seen on the site.
Small-scale local protests about the potential environmental impact went national a month ago, when a video of private security guards beating up a protester spread on social media. The incident has been confirmed by the prime minister.
Anger has now spread, bringing in wider concerns about the way Albania is developing – and how it is governed.
“I’m here for our schools,” a young protester calls Helena tells the BBC.
“I’m here for our hospitals, I’m here for our infrastructure, I’m here for my family that’s outside [Albania], and wanted to be here. And for all of that, I’m mostly here for myself, because I want to stay in my country, and I don’t want to leave.”
