The protests in Albania are not just about a luxury resort. They are about a model of influence that smells of the old playgrounds of power.
Jared Kushner, son-in-law to a former president, is backing a high-end development on the Albanian coast. It has sparked street demonstrations in Tirana. Locals claim the deal was opaque. They say it bypassed proper environmental scrutiny.
For British investors, this is a flashing amber light. The City has long been warned about the risks of 'politically exposed persons.' Kushner is the definition. His network, his methods, his track record in the Balkans.
I spoke to a Whitehall source on condition of anonymity. They told me: “We are watching this closely. Not because of the resort. Because of what it says about the rule of law in Albania.”
The source added that UK firms with exposure to the region should 'stress test' their partnerships. “Due diligence is not a tick box. It is a continuous process.”
This is the kind of advice that gets whispered in private dining rooms. But now it is public.
The Albanian government defends the project as a boost for tourism. It says all legal processes were followed. But the protestors do not buy it. They see a pattern of ‘capture’ by foreign money.
For British investors, the lesson is older than the hills. When a deal smells of politics, it often burns. The Albanian protests are a warning flare. Wise heads in the City will take note.
Kushner's team did not respond to a request for comment. The silence is deafening.
