Democratic Party of Albania US lobbying contract with Continental Strategy (2025)
Status: Contract reported 2025. SPAK verifications opened. Outcome not found.
Summary
In April 2025, shortly before the May 2025 parliamentary election, the Democratic Party signed a representation agreement with Continental Strategy, a US firm founded by former Trump ambassador Carlos Trujillo. Reports describe the contract as about 6 million dollars over two years, roughly 250,000 dollars a month. O'Dwyer's reported the agreement was signed on 4 April 2025. The stated aim was to reverse Berisha's 2021 US designation and build relations with executive and legislative officials. The party says the contract is paid by the Make Albania Great Again Foundation, funded by Albanian-American donors. Berisha said the party did not pay 'a single penny' and the contract is published in the FARA registry. The FARA filing reportedly lists an April 2025 phone call with a senior aide to Senator Marco Rubio. SPAK opened verifications into the contract. The sources disagree on who paid, who the signatories were and how the contract is registered. The FARA filings were not opened in this run.
Key facts
- O'Dwyer's reported the representation agreement was signed on 4 April 2025 (per FARA-based reporting).
- Reported value about 6 million dollars over two years (Mother Jones, O'Dwyer's, Intellinews, A2 CNN).
- The Democratic Party says the Make Albania Great Again Foundation pays (Gazeta Tema, Mother Jones, Shqiptarja).
- SPAK said it started verifications on the lobbying contract of the Democratic Party (Faktoje, 2025).
The record
Four lists kept apart on purpose: what is established, what is only alleged, what is still open, and what those concerned said.
What is proven (2)
Established by documents or official records, as stated in the research. A recorded charge or indictment proves only that the accusation was made.
- A lobbying and representation contract between the Democratic Party or its backers and Continental Strategy was reported in 2025 (press reports based on FARA disclosures; the filing itself was not read).
- SPAK opened verifications into the contract (Faktoje report, 2025).
What is alleged (2)
Accusations, not findings. Those accused are presumed innocent.
- AllegationThat the contract is a Trump-world route to reverse Berisha's designation (party and press reports).
- AllegationThat the contract was paid for by an unregistered source or that the party paid (claim by critics; the party denies).
Allegations and who made them (2)
Each line is an allegation as recorded, with the person or body that made it where the record names them.
- AllegationBesart Xhaferri, head of the FRPD party: the contract was with a firm belonging to Donald Trump's personal lawyer; contract value 250,000 dollars (A2 CNN, 2025). Political claim; not confirmed.
- AllegationSome commentators say the work was lobbying without FARA registration (Albanian press summary). Unverified.
Open questions (4)
- Who signed the contract and who is the contracting party? The sources disagree.
- What did the FARA filings say about payments, registrants and activities? Not checked.
- What did SPAK find? No outcome found.
- Did Rudy Giuliani or his firm have any role? No evidence found in the sources read.
Responses (2)
Responses of the people and organisations concerned, as recorded.
- Democratic Party and Berisha: the contract is legal, disclosed in the FARA registry, and paid by a foundation (A2 CNN, 2025).
- Continental Strategy: 'supporting Berisha through their legal and lobby teams, all of which is being fully disclosed in accordance with the law' (Mother Jones, 2025).
Figures
Money trail →Democratic Party US lobbying and representation contract with Continental Strategy
No amount recorded
contractSource label: Under investigationStated definition: About 6,000,000 US dollars over two years (about 250,000 a month), as reported by Mother Jones, O'Dwyer's, Intellinews and Shqiptarja. The contract's exact terms and the amount actually paid were not found. EUR and ALL conversions are not given.
Date: 4 Apr 2025 · Payer: Reported as the Make Albania Great Again Foundation (per the Democratic Party); the party's own role is disputed · Payee: Continental Strategy
- Continental Strategy lands $6m Albanian pact (opens in a new tab)O'Dwyer's PR · 30 Apr 2025 · journalism · EN
- Albania probes Democratic Party's $6mn US lobbying contract (opens in a new tab)Intellinews · 2025 · journalism · EN
Timeline
Full timeline →Other
Democratic Party signs about 6 million dollar US lobbying deal with Continental Strategy
O'Dwyer's reported the representation agreement was signed on 4 April 2025. The aim was to reverse Berisha's 2021 designation and build relations with executive and legislative officials. The party said a foundation pays the cost; Berisha said the party did not pay 'a single penny'. The contract is reported to have been filed under FARA.
SPAK
SPAK opens verifications into Democratic Party lobbying contract (before the May 2025 election)
SPAK said it had started verifications on the lobbying contract of the Democratic Party. Only the approximate date is known (reports say shortly before the 11 May 2025 election); the day field is a placeholder. Outcome not found.
Sources for this record
Every source the research cites for this record, grouped by its source label. 7 sources.
Source label: Officially reportedOfficially reported · 1 source
- Publisher
- Faktoje
- Date
- 2025
Source label: Under investigationUnder investigation · 6 sources
- Publisher
- O'Dwyer's PR
- Date
- 30 Apr 2025
- Publisher
- Mother Jones
- Date
- 2025
- Publisher
- Intellinews
- Date
- 2025
- Publisher
- Shqiptarja
- Date
- 2025
- Publisher
- Gazeta Tema
- Date
- 2025
- Publisher
- A2 CNN
- Date
- 2025