The Democratic Party has appointed former Speaker of Parliament Jozefina Topalli as the new political coordinator for the Albanian diaspora. This marks Topalli’s return to a prominent role within the party, a decision backed by party leader Sali Berisha after years of her absence from Democratic ranks. 

Why is this important: Topalli’s appointment is an attempt by the Democrats to respond to the increasing pressure they are facing for organized diaspora representation. The Socialist Party has already appointed a dedicated coordinator to engage with Albanian citizens voting from abroad for the first time in the 2025 parliamentary elections. The Democrats’ response aims to ensure a structured approach to engaging their supporters abroad in a competitive election year.

Context: With at least half a million potential voters the diaspora vote is set to play a significant role in the 2025 elections, potentially influencing who will govern Albania. The Socialists are seeking a fourth term, while the Democrats aim to return to power after 12 years. 

However, the Socialists seem way ahead in their preparations for the upcoming elections. They launched their organizational efforts as early as January, initiating a new membership campaign, a candidate selection platform titled Deputeti që Duam (“The MP We Want”), and a series of diaspora outreach meetings in Greece, Italy, the U.S., and later this month in London on November 24. Their political work with the diaspora, especially in Greece and Italy where the overwhelming majority of the Albanian diaspora is based, began already in 2013 with the establishment of local structures and party coordinators. In 2024 the Socialists are simply shifting up a gear in their efforts and reaching out to diaspora communities that had long been beyond reach of the Socialists, such as in the US or UK where the political affiliation leans to the right.

For much of the past year, the Democrats have been consumed by internal challenges and have focused primarily on resolving intra-party conflicts. These include significant legal issues facing key party figures: the deputy leader was jailed for false reporting, the party leader, Sali Berisha is under house arrest for passive corruption, and the leader of an allied party, former president Ilir Meta, is also under arrest facing charges of corruption, money laundering, and failure to declare assets. The fact that Berisha has also been declared persona non grata by the US and UK for involvement in corruption and links to organized crime, cannot have helped the Democrats make their case with the diaspora communities.

What’s next: With this appointment, Democrats are expected to accelerate their outreach to diaspora voters, attempting to match the Socialists’ early efforts. As both parties vie for the influential diaspora vote, Topalli’s role will be critical in coordinating with Albanian communities abroad and bridging the gap in the Democrats’ delayed preparations.