Sali Berisha hires Trump allies to influence Albania's elections
- Sali Berisha is contesting the May 11 elections with support from Trump's campaign architects.
- His campaign strategy includes ties to influential American figures to enhance his political reach.
- Berisha's actions reflect a broader trend in many countries where connections to U.S. leadership are viewed as advantageous.
In Albania, former prime minister and president Sali Berisha is leading the opposition Democratic Party in the May 11 parliamentary elections. He has engaged a team of political consultants linked to former U.S. President Donald Trump, including Chris LaCivita and Paul Manafort, to assist his campaign. This team seeks to emulate Trump's successful electoral strategies, emphasizing popular sentiment while Berisha concurrently faces corruption charges. His campaign was notably characterized by a slogan that pays homage to Trump's campaign, although it was later altered due to geopolitical sensitivities around the concept of 'greater Albania'. Berisha aims to use these ties to garner support and potentially lift sanctions preventing his entry into the United States. During the campaign, he has asserted that he looks to the U.S. administration for favorable conditions that might change his current political restrictions. Additionally, Prime Minister Edi Rama has established his own connections with Trump associates, inclusive of plans for a significant development project led by Jared Kushner. This political environment in Albania illustrates the global influence of U.S. political dynamics, where alliances with American figures can provide strategic benefits, particularly when seeking to reposition or reclaim power amid ongoing challenges within the electoral landscape.