Dua Lipa says Albania protests against Ivanka Trump luxury resort are ‘inspiring’

Dua Lipa has expressed her support for the protests in Albania against a luxury development project backed by the Trump family, calling the demonstrations ‘inspiring’. The project, which involves the construction of a 1,400-acre resort on the abandoned island of Sazan, has sparked widespread outrage in the country, with tens of thousands marching in the capital of Tirana against the development.

The Albanian parliament’s decision to fast-track the project in December 2024 has been widely criticized, with many arguing that the government’s amendment of strict legislation regarding construction on environmentally sensitive areas was unjustified. The development has also raised concerns about the potential impact on the local ecosystem, which is home to 70 endangered species, including the monk seal and loggerhead sea turtle.

The Trump family’s plans for the project involve major construction on Sazan, as well as a $4.7bn agreement for an additional 10,000 villas on the Zvernec peninsula. Environmental organizations have accused the government of allowing bulldozers onto the site without proper permits or an environmental impact assessment, and of erecting a barbed wire fence to restrict access to the area.

Albania’s government has defended the project, arguing that it will be transformative for the country and support its bid for European Union membership. However, the development has also sparked accusations of corruption, with Prime Minister Edi Rama dismissing claims that he is the ‘Godfather’ behind a system of corruption in the country.

The project has also raised concerns among European Union officials, with MEPs warning that Albania’s EU accession talks are at risk if the government does not ‘change course’ over the plans. Dutch MEP Tineke Strik has called on Prime Minister Rama to prioritize the country’s EU ambitions over the development, saying ’If Rama is really serious about his EU ambitions, he should step back from this trajectory and say to the Trump clan: ‘Sorry, the EU is my first priority’.’

Dua Lipa, who has Kosovan-Albanian parents, has spoken out against the project, saying ‘What I actually find concerning is the principle that the government could just change the law to remove the environmental protection without any kind of public consultation.’ She added, ‘I find it so inspiring to see how much people really care.’