- Trump 2024 campaign veterans Chris LaCivita and Paul Manafort advising Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha
- Opposition campaign mirrors Trump tactics with MAGA-style branding and corruption allegations
- $6M Republican lobbying contract aims to lift US sanctions against Berisha
- Parallels drawn to Argentina’s Milei and El Salvador’s Bukele in leveraging Trump ties
Albania’s parliamentary elections have become an unlikely battleground for US political operatives, with three architects of Donald Trump’s presidential campaigns deploying American-style tactics in the Balkan nation. Former Trump campaign manager Chris LaCivita and ex-chairman Paul Manafort are orchestrating opposition leader Sali Berisha’s comeback attempt, despite Berisha facing active corruption charges...
The strategic partnership underscores a growing trend of US political consultants capitalizing on foreign elections during domestic off-seasons. Continental Strategy – a Republican firm with White House connections – secured a multi-million dollar contract to lobby for Berisha’s interests, including reversing his US travel ban. This foreign influence push comes as Prime Minister Edi Rama counters with ties to Jared Kushner’s $1.6B coastal development project...
Analysts note Albania’s political landscape now reflects polarized US dynamics. Berisha’s “Make Albania Grandiose” rebranding and blue campaign hats directly channel Trump’s playbook, while Rama’s administration faces accusations of weaponizing judicial processes – a charge both leaders mutually level. The Democratic Party’s written statement to AP explicitly aligned with Republican values: “against woke culture, pro-family and free markets.”...
Regional experts warn the involvement of Trump associates risks inflaming Balkan tensions. Berisha’s original “Make Albania Great Again” slogan was scrapped over fears it might resurrect territorial disputes about a “Greater Albania” – a sensitive issue with Kosovo and North Macedonia. Yet LaCivita doubled down at rallies, asking crowds “Who’s ready to make Albania great again?” to Village People’s YMCA...
The lobbying efforts reveal complex financial networks. A New Jersey-based “Make Albania Great Again Foundation” funds Continental Strategy’s work, though investigators cannot verify the nonprofit’s donors. Special prosecutors have opened corruption probes into the arrangement, mirroring US scrutiny of foreign influence operations...
As Albania’s Sunday vote approaches, the campaign demonstrates how Trump-era strategies are being globalized. From Argentina’s Javier Milei to Berisha’s populist rebranding, candidates increasingly frame themselves as anti-establishment warriors battling deep-state corruption. With US sanctions and Kushner’s development deal hanging in the balance, Albania’s election outcomes could reshape Washington’s Balkan foothold...
