Albanians head to the polls on Sunday for legislative elections seen as crucial to gauging the country’s democratic development, and its progress towards its goal of a European future.
The election pits Prime Minister Edi Rama against his arch-rival Sali Berisha, a right-winger who heads an alliance of opposition parties.
Rama, 60, has been Socialist Party leader since 2005 and is seeking an unprecedented fourth consecutive term on the promise of European Union membership by 2030.
Berisha, 80, is eager to return to power after 12 years in opposition.
The former president’s coalition has adopted the Donald Trump-esque slogan – “Great Albania”, and is campaigning on a platform of economic revival.
“We are the only ones who can relaunch the country’s economy, the only ones able to take Albania forward. Edi Rama is counting the last days of his regime,” said Berisha.
Some of the architects of Trump’s presidential campaigns have reunited in Albania, to come to the aid of Berisha’s campaign
They include Chris LaCivita, who served as co-campaign manager of Trump’s successful 2024 effort; Trump’s longtime pollster Tony Fabrizio, and Paul Manafort, who served as chairman of Trump’s 2016 campaign – before he was convicted in 2018 of crimes that included secretly lobbying for Ukraine’s former pro-Russian president.
“It’s the only Democrat Party I would ever consider working for,” quipped LaCivita, as he headed to the country for his third trip before Sunday’s election.
(With newswires)
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