FLASH
Shkruar nga PamfletiTwo marketing agencies and businessman Ylli Ujka, a supporter of the Socialist Party, who received a building permit for three towers in the heart of Tirana, are the connecting threads behind an online advertising campaign and the Socialist Party's 'Diaspora Tour'.
On a cold January afternoon, Aldo, a 37-year-old Albanian immigrant living in Italy, was scrolling through Instagram when an ad in Albanian caught his eye. Using emotional and supposedly “patriotic” language, the ad was aimed at Albanians in the diaspora, inviting them to register to vote in Albania’s upcoming parliamentary elections.
But behind this initiative, which at first glance seemed like "help" for immigrants, was a well-organized propaganda campaign, supported by structures closely linked to the Socialist Party and businessmen who benefit from government decisions.
The platform, which claimed to help Albanian immigrants register to vote, appeared through several Facebook and Instagram pages, such as “Diaspora Fier” and “Comunità Albanese in Italia.” These pages targeted Albanians in the diaspora with advertisements, asking for personal information such as name, phone number, email, and place of residence in Albania.
Aldo initially thought it was a legitimate initiative, but the lack of transparency and the request for personal information made him suspicious. Who was behind these pages? Why were details about the organizers missing? And above all, why did he have to give up his personal information to vote?
According to data from Meta (the parent company of Facebook and Instagram), since the beginning of January, thousands of similar ads have been specifically targeted at Albanian immigrants in Italy. Behind this campaign were two marketing companies, 'Cambria Marketing Srl' and '1001 Solutions', directly linked to businessman Ylli Ujka, an open supporter of Prime Minister Edi Rama and organizer of electoral rallies for the Socialist Party in Italy.
On May 26, 2024, in Busto Arsizio, Italy, a grand rally was organized by Ujka for the Socialist Party. In a hall filled with Albanian immigrants, where well-known singers such as Elvana Gjata and Noizy performed, Rama gave an electoral speech supported by chants of “Edi, Edi!”
This event was not an ordinary meeting with the diaspora. It was a well-thought-out political move to orient the immigrant vote towards the Socialist Party, using national emotions and propaganda disguised as “help” for voter registration.
Two months after this rally, on July 31, 2024, the National Council of Territorial Affairs (NKT), led by Edi Rama himself, approved a construction permit for Ylli Ujka's company 'X One'. The project includes the construction of three towers and a luxury hotel in the center of Tirana.
Seemingly a coincidence, but in reality a well-known pattern: those who finance the Socialist Party's electoral campaigns later benefit from profitable government projects.
The May 11 elections marked the first time Albanian emigrants had the opportunity to vote from abroad. However, this important process was used as a tool for manipulation, rather than ensuring fair participation by the diaspora.
If the Albanian government sincerely wanted to help immigrants vote, it would have set up a reliable and transparent system, not a dark web of anonymous Facebook pages managed by companies connected to the government.
This scandal raises an important question: is the emigrant vote really a step forward for Albanian democracy, or another tool in the hands of the authorities to secure the next elections?
BIRN's full investigation:
Skyscrapers and advertising: The secret Facebook campaign for the Diaspora vote
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