Rama for Financial Times: I am not “Albania's” Godfather, I tell you to go to hell

Prime Minister Edi Rama has denied being Albania's “Godbarti” after weeks of anti-corruption protests sparked by the development of a luxury resort linked to Donald Trump's groom. The so-called “Flamingo Revolution” was sparked by public outrage over Jared Kouchner's planned $4 billion project and Ivanka Trump on an island and near a natural reserve known for its flamingos. Protesters have called on Rama to resign and prosecute for what they perceive as systemic corruption allowing international investors to build on protected land.

People say I'm the leader of all this. I tell you, fuck you. So simple, he said”

It's not up to me to prove that I'm not Godfather, it's up to them to prove that I am Godfather”

Albanian prosecutors have issued arrest warrants for more than a dozen businessmen for drug trafficking and money laundering, including one previously owned by land in the area to be held by Kouchner and his wife, Ivanka Trump. A spokesman for Kouchner and his other partners in Albania did not respond to the requests for comment.

Rama insisted Kouchner's investments were regular and had nothing to do with the ongoing investigation into a former land owner.

“To say that the Albanian economy is based on money laundering, this is terrible,” said Rama for FT in his rose-looking office, where tens of thousands of people have demonstrated every night for more than three weeks.

The money laundering is part of our economy, but it's not such a big problem,” he added.

You think there's no money laundering in London? There is. But can you say that the British economy is in large part money laundering? Not”

Albanian anti-corruption prosecutors have issued arrest warrants for 20 businessmen who they said were involved in international drug trafficking and money laundering. It is alleged that billions of euros have been channeled into major construction projects along the Adriatic coast and in the Albanian capital.

Among the targeted businessmen is Arthur Shehu, a double US-Albania citizen who lives in Miami. Shehu in 2025 sold land near the natural reserve, where they nested to the company “Albany Land Development”, a company linked to the Kushner project. This agreement came under surveillance by anti-corruption prosecutors, who froze 128m euros in pending payment of the investigation. Shehu did not answer the requests for comment.

Rama argued his government allowed prosecutors to pursue cases more aggressively, which also increased the perception that the country was filled with corruption and organised crime.

It's actually the opposite. Albania is fighting as never before and is far less corrupt today than it was”.

He reiterated allegations that the protests were prompted by American president's enemies, including Iran. “has a lot of interest to kill this project... due to Trump,” he said.

If it wasn't Jared Kouchner... no one would care about flamingo, for Albania, for nothing. It's all the hate against Trump that creates all this research”.

He said he is convinced that coastal development plans would move forward despite the protests.

The important part is that investors are not criminals and are not involved in money laundering,” said Rama.

They're big investors. It's a historic chance for Albania”