There is no planning permission yet and Rama’s government says it has not even started an environmental impact assessment, but fences and bulldozers have been seen at the site.

Small-scale local protests over the potential environmental impact went national a month ago, when a video of private security guards beating a protester spread on social media. The incident has been confirmed by the prime minister.

The anger has now spread, raising broader concerns about the way Albania is developing and how it is governed.

“I’m here for our schools,” a young protester named Helena tells the BBC.

“I’m here for our hospitals, I’m here for our infrastructure, I’m here for my family outside. [Albania]and I wanted to be here. And despite all that, I’m here mainly for myself, because I want to stay in my country and I don’t want to leave.”