Democrats push new gender law as part of de-Sorosization campaign

The Democratic Party of Albania, led by Sali Berisha, has submitted a draft law to parliament that seeks to enshrine in legislation that the Republic of Albania recognizes only two genders: male and female. The proposal is framed as part of the party’s broader campaign against the influence of philanthropist George Soros—a movement Berisha has termed “de-Sorosization.”

Why is this important: Albania’s transgender community is extremely small, and the recognition of more than two genders has never been part of any formal or public discussion. The Democratic Party’s initiative appears disconnected from reality and from the actual concerns of Albanians. Similarly irrelevant in political or electoral terms are Berisha’s ongoing attacks on George Soros.

The obvious motivation behind these initiatives is Berisha’s effort to gain the attention of former U.S. President Donald Trump by aligning with his political rhetoric, however strange it may seem to the Albanian electorate. Berisha, who has been sanctioned by the Biden administration—along with his family—due to corruption allegations, is reportedly seeking support from the Trump camp to have his “non-grata” designation revoked.

Context: During a parliamentary group meeting, Berisha elaborated on the draft law, drawing parallels with executive orders issued by Trump during his time in office.
“We have prepared a law as part of the de-Sorosization effort, which we are submitting today. It stipulates that the Republic of Albania recognizes only two genders, those created by God: male and female,” Berisha said.

He went on to praise Trump’s policies, stating, “President Trump decreed that the United States would recognize only two genders, man and woman. These positions are of extraordinary importance, not just for America but especially for Albania, which became Soros’s experimental garden.”

Berisha also denounced “woke culture,” which he described as a corrosive force infiltrating media and society. “Our fight against woke culture will be uncompromising. This is a battle for truth,” he added.

Why Soros: Berisha’s antagonism toward Soros and the Open Society Foundation in Albania dates back decades. He has never forgiven Soros for supporting the democratic opposition and free media during Berisha’s authoritarian presidency in the 1990s—a period that remains one of the darkest in Albania’s post-communist history. Berisha’s government ultimately collapsed in bloodshed and chaos in 1997. While Berisha has recently sought to exploit his feud with Soros to attract support from right-wing allies amid his political isolation, the origins of his animosity are deeply rooted and personal.

What’s next: Discussions around transgender rights, the gender spectrum, and “woke culture” arrive in Albania as distant echoes of debates from the U.S. and Northern Europe. It remains unclear how Berisha and his party plan to advance the law. It is also uncertain whether the Socialist majority will engage with the initiative or simply dismiss. Were the law to pass, however, it would hardly be surprising if Berisha’s next proposal were a bill to build a wall on Albania’s borders—anything to catch Trump’s attention and potentially ease his non-grata status!