Albanian opposition leader appeals to Trump for support in public letter

Sali Berisha, the embattled leader of Albania’s Democratic Party, has sent a public letter to Donald Trump, tying his political future to the former U.S. president’s return to power. In the letter, Berisha describes Trump’s re-election as a “miracle” and an opportunity to end what he called the “radical leftist agenda” and George Soros’s influence in Albania and beyond.

Why is this important: Berisha is in one of the most challenging phases of his political career, with corruption charges against him, his son-in-law under house arrest, and his party struggling in the polls. His letter to Trump seems to be an effort to mobilize his supporters by presenting his legal and political struggles as part of a larger ideological battle where they now have an ally in President Trump.

Context: This is not the first time Berisha has employed such tactics. In the early 2000s, while in opposition, he rallied his base by connecting his political fortunes to the victory of George W Bush, famously organizing protests where supporters chanted “Bush won, Nano is finished!” in reference to his Socialist rival Fatos Nano.

However, this time, the situation seems very different and the obstacles greater. Berisha’s poor showing in the polls, coupled with seemingly solid connections between Albania’s Socialist government under Edi Rama and Trump’s inner circle, casts doubt on the likelihood of a significant U.S. policy shift in his favor. Despite the rhetoric, there is little evidence to suggest that the Trump administration is paying much attention to what is happening in Albania and that it would target the Albanian Socialist government or run to the rescue of Berisha.

Highlights from the letter: In his letter, Berisha praised Trump’s leadership, claiming that his return would restore traditional values and end U.S. support for “leftist regimes” worldwide. He directly attacked billionaire philanthropist George Soros, stating:

“Your return marks the end of the transformation of Soros’s Open Society Foundations into de facto shadow embassies of the United States.”

“President Trump’s leadership represents a beacon of hope against the ‘woke culture’ and leftist agendas that threaten the values of Western civilization and humanity as a whole,” Berisha asserts in his letter where he also noted that Trump’s return signifies “the end of U.S. support for leftist governments weaponizing justice systems to persecute conservative political opponents.”

Berisha also portrayed Albania as a victim of what he called a “narcotics dictatorship” under Prime Minister Edi Rama and expressed hope that a future Trump administration would support Albania’s opposition.

What’s next: While Berisha’s attempt to tie his fortunes to Trump may resonate with his most loyal followers, it remains to be seen whether this approach will have any impact on his electoral or legal fortunes.