Why the Albanian diaspora in the U.S. and UK can’t help Berisha return to power

Over the past week, the Democratic Party has sought to project support for granting the Albanian diaspora the right to vote in the 2025 elections from the countries where they reside. To this end, they organized two modestly attended meetings, one in the U.S. and another in the UK, held in small venues. Sali Berisha participated remotely via video conference in both events.

Ironically, Berisha used these occasions to claim that votes from Albanians in the U.S. and the UK would help the Democratic Party return to power. Yet the audience in both meetings consisted of Albanians residing in countries that have designated Berisha non grata for alleged corruption and undermining of democracy. Berisha has already lost two legal battles challenging these designations—one in the U.S. and one in the UK—spending over half a million euros on the latter case.

It is hard to see what kind of hope Berisha can offer Albanians living in these countries, whose governments have effectively closed the door on his political comeback. When he says their votes will pave his way back to power, he is either suggesting they engage in “civil disobedience” in their host countries to support his cause or that they abandon their American and British citizenships to return to Albania and join his opposition movement. As citizens of the U.S. and the UK, their ability to influence Berisha’s political fortunes is virtually nonexistent. The only conceivable forms of “help” they could offer would involve actions that would either disrupt the countries they live in or require them to move back to Albania.

Neither scenario seems likely. Especially considering that U.S. and UK authorities are closely monitoring Berisha’s allies and collaborators with ties to organized crime or corruption. Beyond Berisha himself, the UK has barred entry to other prominent Democratic Party figures, such as Flamur Noka, as well as individuals linked to Berisha’s family businesses or criminal networks.

These meetings ultimately highlight why the Albanian diaspora cannot view Berisha as a credible figure—either as a former or potential future prime minister. His legal and political standing in the West makes such a return impossible.

Compounding the irony, Berisha has recently been trying to rally his base in Tirana with the claim that Donald Trump will reverse his non grata status in the U.S, as they supposedly belong to the same political spectrum. However, his engagement with the Albanian diaspora in London is a stark reminder that his UK designation came from a conservative government. With Labour now in power, Berisha’s prospects in the UK look even dimmer.

The notion that a leader sanctioned by two major Western nations could somehow defeat the West with the support of a handful of Albanian immigrants in the U.S. and UK is far-fetched. Rather than solving any of Berisha’s problems, such efforts are more likely to create difficulties for those immigrants while adding yet another failure to Berisha’s long list of missteps.

The article initially appeared in Albanian titled: "Shpresa që nuk vjen dot nga Anglia dhe SHBA"