The Republican Communications Officer who organized his election campaign, and led to his “political resurrection” in 2024, helps his party. As all show, Chris Latsivita is trying to organize an unlikely- rather- revival of the opposition party in.
The adviser to their election campaign Donald Trump is now supporting the Albanian Democratic Party. His leader hopes in his own political recovery in Sunday’s national elections, which are extremely critical. It is worth noting that both the communicator and the Albanian politician have to manage the charges that the second has received for corruption.
With the support of Chris Latsivita, Sali Berisha tries to overthrow Edi Rama. The Albanian prime minister “holds the country” for more than two decades, first as mayor of Tirana. Subsequently, the former painter, who later became a socialist, managed to be elected prime minister.
A possible victory by Sali Berisha could put an end to the twelve -year -old governance by Edi Rama’s Socialists. International observers have described this period as a period characterized by “increased state captivity” by only one party.
Credits: AP/ Julia Demaree Nikhinson
How can Chris Latsivita help Sali Berisha
“In the last two years, Chris Latsivita has advised two important personalities in two different countries. These two cases are Donald Trump and Sali Berisha, “Albanian Democratic Party spokesman Alfred Lela told.
According to him, the two men have “notable profiles. They were persecuted by the established -egochoria and international -, targeted by the systems of their countries’ justice, and designated as dangerously underlying, which should be eliminated from politics at all costs. “
In an event months ago, Chris Latsivita had stated that “with a thriving democracy and true friendship with America, we can make Albania great again.”
Still, Trump’s “general” has publicly stated that Berisha’s status did not discourage him, but inspired him, Lella commented. “He is involved in a difficult campaign for a party trying to rebuild after being pushed to the limits of the execution policy,” the Albanian Democratic Party spokesman said.
Sali Berisha’s profile
Sali Berisha is 80 years old today and is regarded as the “father of the Albanian Republic” for his role in the protest movement, which overturned Europe’s last harsh communist regime in 1992. At the same time, he was the first democratically elected president of the country.
He is a cardiologist in the profession, who combines a mental appearance with a fiery, militant policy.
By 2021, he had served as president, he had served two terms as prime minister and had largely retired to let the next generation lead the Democratic Party.
Problems with the Biden government
However, for alleged corruption. In particular, the US declared himself, his daughter, and his son “Perosona Non Gata”, that is, “unwanted faces”. The then Foreign Minister, Anthony Blinken, cited “significant corruption” as the reason for which they were banned from entering the country.
In particular, the government of Joe Biden said Sali Berisha was involved in “embezzlement of public resources and intervention in public processes, for his own benefit, as well as to enrich his political allies and members of his family at the expense of his confidence.”
Thus, the three years of chaos began within the Democratic Party of Albania. Over the years, Sali Berisha was eliminated by the party’s parliamentary group and was eventually put into house arrest in the face of a bribery investigation against him. Subsequently, his court returned to control his party in 2024.
“Mr. Berisha demanded facts and evidence, as well as several US MPs, but Minister Blinken has never provided a single proof,” Lela said.
It is worth noting that Albania is a strongly pro -American country. Therefore, the fact that the leader of the main opposition team is on the blacklist of the US is equivalent to political “death condemnation” for the party in the eyes of many Albanians.
Sali Berisha has emphasized that investigating corruption against him was an attack with political incentives.
Reactions after home restriction
Following the court ruling on him. The protesters set fire to tires outside the Tirana City Hall, burning parliament chairs, while setting fire to the leaders of the ruling party.
The opposition leader remained confined to his apartment in the center of Tirana. However, he had uploaded a microphone to the eighth floor of his apartment building and was addressing the crowd from his window. In fact, he made regular appearances until his “release” in November 2024.
The electoral process in Albania and the potential results
Polls show that the ruling Socialist Party can reach approximately 48%. On the other hand, the Democratic Party seems to be at least 10 percentage points.
However, the introduction of the vote of the citizens of the diaspora for the first time, but also the low reliability of polls could lead to a surprise.
The party that wins the parliamentary majority forms the new government and chooses a prime minister. If Sali Berisha’s party succeeds, it will be a stunning regeneration. A man who seemed politically dead would take over the reins of power.
Rama’s promotion
Edi Rama has been in power since 2013. He has worked hard to join the West. Specifically, he managed to appear in Brussels’ meetings with forms and athletics, facing the “goat Europeans as kings at glittering conferences in Tirana,” as he comments on.
A charismatic leader and often exaggerated, he has worked hard to become the “beloved Albanian of the West”. Indeed, the Albanian prime minister has also recruited high profile consultants. In particular, he has hired Labor Party Strategic Communicator Alater Campbell in 2012. He had made this option to win his victory in the 2013 elections, which was achieved.
Even former British Prime Minister Tony Blair had participated in Edi Rama’s advisory team.
Rama’s “Flirt” with Trump
Of course, it cannot be unnoticed that the Albanian Democratic Party is not the only one that flirts with Donald Trump.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Edi Rama had stated that he considers the US president “good for all”. He noted that “God saved Trump”, after attempting to assassinate the Republican president in July 2024. “Not only to make America great again, but also to make Europe” wake up “and” recover “,” he also said.
The Albanian prime minister has handed over one of the most lucrative development projects to the modern history of the country, to Trump’s bridegroom Jared Kouchner. Still, this includes the land of the Delta of the Viosa River, as well as a rent for 99 years on the island of Sazan. The island of Sazan is an abandoned former base of military secret services off the southern coast of Albania.
Albania’s problem for joining the EU
The intense political controversy between the parties of Berisha and Rama are at risk of preventing Albania’s ambitions for EU accession. This is the most important issue for Albanian voters.
“Their conflicting approach is what has prevented the country from making the most of its potential and in the course of its accession to the EU,” Valbona Zeneli, a partner of the Atlantic Council, explained to Politico. He went on to say that “we need a new wave of leaders and parties. And a break from the vote for the party leader over the vote for political platforms and policies. “
Contrary to most of its Balkan neighbors, who are still involved in intractable disputes coming from the Yugoslav’s dismantling wars in the 1990s, Albania faces little or no regional or international reactions.
Currently, it is considered as the dominant candidate country for joining the EU with Montenegro. Indeed, Edi Rama pledged to secure access by 2030 as part of his campaign for voters for Sunday’s elections.
“This is what worries me the most. After the elections, if divisions in the country will continue to slow down the progress of reforms and initiatives, which could eventually get it out of this post -communist transitional process, “Valbona Zeneli said.
