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DP signs the largest lobbying contract in history...
The Democratic Party will pay $6 million to an American company, owned by people close to President Donald Trump, to lobby the US government for a two-year period.
Kapitali reveals the full lobbying contract signed by the Secretary General of the Democratic Party, Flamur Noka, and former advisor to President Trump, Carlo Trujillo, in his capacity as President of Continental Strategy.
According to the contract, the lobbying company will provide the following services on behalf of the Democratic Party:
1- Establishing relationships with key stakeholders in the US government and Congress to facilitate policy development.
2- Support to promote democracy, anti-corruption initiatives, and government reforms consistent with US-Albania relations.
3- Utilizing extensive experience in government relations, policy advocacy, legal envoys, and stakeholder engagement in line with the objectives of the Democratic Party and its coalition, the Alliance for Greater Albania.
But how much will this service cost the Albanian opposition?
“ The Client (through its Guarantor) will pay the Firm a monthly retainer of $250,000 for a comprehensive support package of lobbying, advocacy and strategic litigation initiatives for a period of 24 months (“Monthly Retainer”) and in accordance with the Agreement Term. Payment for the first three months (down payment) will be made upon signing this Agreement ,” the contract signed on April 4 states.
The guarantor of the lucrative contract is Nuredin Seci, an Albanian-American originally from Tropoja, who lives in New York.
Continental Strategy
But who is behind the company Continental Strategy?
The company was founded in 2021 by his advisor Carlos Trujillo. Mr. Trujillo founded Continental shortly after Trump left office, having served in his first administration as ambassador to the Organization of American States.
Just days after Donald Trump was re-elected as US President for a second time, Continental announced a promotion for Katie Wiles, the daughter of Susie Wiles, who served as President Trump's campaign manager.
A few days later, Continental hired Alberto Martinez, a former chief of staff to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as a managing partner to help further grow Continental.
Meanwhile, in mid-December last year the firm hired Trump campaign deputy political director Alex Garcia as a partner.
The choice of a company owned by people in the inner circle of US President Donald Trump seems to be no coincidence.
Through this contract, the Democratic Party apparently seeks more access to the top of the White House, but also the resolution of some problems from the past.
Not coincidentally, the first service the lobbying company has provided for the DP is a phone conversation with Dan Holler, the chief of staff to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the man who has the power to undo the non grata designation of Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha by former Secretary Blinken.
The largest lobbying contract in history
The one between the Democratic Party and Continental Strategy is the largest lobbying contract in the history of Albania. According to the annexes of the contract, the Democratic Party will pay the American company a full 6 million dollars for lobbying in the United States, over the two years of the contract.
So far, the largest lobbying contract of an Albanian political party in the United States of America has been that of the Democratic Party, during the time it was led by Lulzim Basha in 2017.
At that time, the DP paid about $1 million for lobbying services in the US, through a shell company from Scotland, called Biniatta Trade. But this was a move that opened up quite a few problems for Mr. Basha, as Biniatta turned out to be connected to several Russian citizens.
An investigation was opened in the United States by the FBI, where Mr. Muzin agreed to cooperate with American authorities. In parallel, an investigation was also opened by the Albanian prosecutor's office against Mr. Basha, but the case was closed.
Meanwhile, Sali Berisha's people accused Lulëzim Basha of holding the lobbying affair hostage by Edi Rama's government and segments of the American embassy in Tirana.
However, the figure paid by Lulëzim Basha seems like a crumb compared to the hefty contract signed by Sali Berisha's and Flamur Noka's DP.
A lot of money, from the opposition of one of the poorest countries in Europe. / Capital
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