Why is this important: The initial tweet, posted Wednesday by journalist Marc Caputo, was immediately seized upon by Berisha’s Democratic Party as evidence that his travel ban to the United States had been lifted. Supporters celebrated the post as a sign of renewed U.S. support under the Republican-controlled State Department. Berisha himself issued instructions to his candidates to post celebratory messages and appeared alongside Trump-linked figures at a rally in Shkodër. However, U.S. authorities have confirmed that the designation remains firmly in place.

Why is this important: The tweet—posted by right-wing journalist Marc Caputo—was seized upon by Berisha’s Democratic Party as proof that the U.S. under the Trump administration is changing its position regarding Berisha’s “non grata” designation for corruption and that the travel ban has been lifted. However, the text itself refers only to the possibility of a visa waiver, a mechanism the U.S. has long used in specific cases that do not affect the underlying designation. Analysts say the move is unlikely to affect the outcome of Albania’s May 11 elections.

Why is this important: The gesture underscores Rama’s confidence in securing a historic fourth term and a wider parliamentary majority. He made a clear distinction between what he sees as 100% certainty for the minimum of 78 seats and a 50% likelihood of reaching 88. “This is not fortune-telling, not the lottery—this is a memorandum,” Rama said, quipping that it should be preserved as a document of historical importance.

Why is this important: The incident underscores the growing internal tensions within the PD, which is under intense pressure ahead of the May 11 election. The party has been riven by internal rivalries and is facing grim projections in the elections, with all surveys predicting a landslide for the ruling Socialists. The clash appears to reflect not just personal animosity but a deeper crisis of morale and cohesion inside the main opposition party.

Why is this important: The request comes amid growing concerns that thousands of Albanian citizens in Greece may be unable to vote in the May 11 parliamentary elections due to problems with the distribution of voting materials. The Democratic Party has filed formal complaints, pointing to potential voter disenfranchisement.