Jorida Tabaku: PD will declare lobbying contract as required, emphasizes transparency and legality

Democratic Party (DP) candidate Jorida Tabaku has spoken publicly for the first time about the party’s controversial $6 million lobbying contract in the United States, promising that everything will be declared transparently and in accordance with the law.

Why is this important: Tabaku’s statement comes amid growing scrutiny of the contract, which is being investigated by SPAK over possible financing violations. Her insistence on transparency appears to be an attempt to contain political fallout just weeks ahead of Albania’s May 11 elections.

Context: Speaking on News24, Tabaku stated that the contract will be disclosed “when it is due to be declared” and insisted there are no hidden or suspicious elements.

“Everything is as it appears. It’s all reflected in the contract,” she said.

Distancing her party from what she described as corrupt practices used by the ruling Socialist Party, Tabaku emphasized: “There are no shady payments or hidden forms of financing as this government uses. Everything is transparent and declared.”

She argued that the key takeaway is a shift in how DP’s relationship with the U.S. is perceived:
“For me, the story here is that Albanians now understand the DP has open doors in the U.S., and a long-standing taboo has been broken.”

What else: Tabaku added that all details about the contract will be submitted to the Central Election Commission (CEC) as part of the legal framework for declaring electoral spending.

Her remarks appear aimed at reinforcing the DP’s message of legality and legitimacy, even as questions persist over the source of the funds and the contract’s real purpose.