LaCivita's role in the DP campaign/ Strategist reveals the details

2025-04-15 10:54:00, Politikë CNA

The Democratic Party's campaign manager for the May 11 elections, Chris LaCivita, gave an interview to the 'Opinion' show on TV Klan where he spoke about his role in the DP's campaign.

LaCivita said that his role in this campaign is to advise candidates, to speak with DP leader Berisha, to discuss strategy and messages.

Among other things, regarding media polls, where the DP comes in second, LaCivita said that he does not trust them.

Excerpts from the conversation:

Fevziu: What will be your role in this election campaign during these 30 days?

LaCivita: I advise candidates. I talk to Dr. Berisha. We discuss strategy, we discuss the message and the importance of the message and the importance of being active on the ground and talking to voters in order to make sure that people will vote. In the United States, Edi Rama would go out and tell people not to vote for him. He does something like that because he can't handle the vote of the citizens. We are trying to encourage people to go vote because we feel that this will help Dr. Berisha.

Fevziu: Is your staff here? I will stay here during the election campaign

LaCivita: I will come and go...

Fevziu: Not you, but your staff…

LaCivita: I will come and go and come again. It is a very beautiful place, I have to say…

Fevziu: Especially when it's a sunny day...

LaCivita: It's very true...

Fevziu: But you haven't visited anything in Albania except Tirana...

LaCivita: Exactly. I can't wait to get out.

Fevziu: You have to be a real tourist like the Prime Minister said… But maybe after the elections…

LaCivita: I will be a real tourist after Dr. Berisha wins.

Fevziu: After the victory… What is the weakest point of the Democratic Party during this election campaign? Because the Democratic Party is emerging from a fierce internal war that has lasted from 2021 until now. What is the weakest point of the Democratic Party in these elections? ….. Because strategists never talk about this…

LaCivita: I never talk about this. One of the things that has impressed me is the fact that it is effectively a new coalition. However, it is a very unified coalition and very focused on the things that I want to achieve. I think that is very good. Everything that is good and that I can do things, whether it is in politics or in governance, takes a little time to get organized, but they have done a really good job here.

Fevziu: According to the surveys you have, what is the biggest problem that Albanians face?

LaCivita: Economy.

Fevziu: Economy?

LaCivita: Economy. Economic opportunities, jobs, economic sustainability, cost of living, all of these are part of the economy.

Fevziu: Why do you think Berisha and his team will solve this problem for Albania?

LaCivita: I think they have a very solid program. Not only are we talking about the minimum wage, we are talking about the living wage, we are talking about the attention that needs to be paid so that Albanian families are not torn apart because young people are leaving to go to Italy, to the United States or to Greece to find work. They can stay here. The family is very important. Ensuring that the family will stay together. Once again, it is about providing hope and opportunities and young voters… young voters in Albania have a very good opportunity to decide their future and how things are going to go. They have left a lot of impressions on me.

Fevziu: In these elections we will have a new element, the diaspora vote. So far, there are around 250 thousand people who have registered to vote...

LaCivita: From outside Albania…

Fevziu: Outside Albania. Can this number of people change the government in Albania?

LaCivita: Definitely.

Fevziu: Is that what you think?

LaCivita: There are enough votes. I mean, there are a lot of people.

Fevziu: It's a quarter of the parliament, more or less.

LaCivita: Yes, there are many votes. I think their commitment is very important. It is their homeland and they are still citizens. It is very important that in democratic countries people exercise their right, the God-given right to vote. Otherwise it is not a democracy but a dictatorship.

Fevziu: According to polls published in Albanian media, the Democratic Party is ahead by more than 10%. What do you think? How can you reverse this huge difference between the two parties?

LaCivita: First of all, these polls are not true.

Fevziu: Why do you think they are not true?

LaCivita: I have 35 years of political experience around the world and media polls...

Fevziu: Don't you believe in media polls?

LaCivita: Of course not. No, I don't believe it. There have been many polls that showed that Donald Trump would not win. I've lived it, I've seen it, I've experienced it. All the polls showed that Donald Trump would lose by 8-10%. The only polls we trust are the ones we pay for. Of course we don't rely on the media...

Fevziu: But you have your own polls…

LaCivita: We have and I don't talk about them.

Fevziu: Yes, definitely. On the other hand, in the last 3 elections Rama received the same number of votes, somewhere around 800 thousand, 820 thousand or 800 thousand votes.

LaCivita: We'll see.

Fevziu: This is a good start for him. How can the Democratic Party destroy such a large number of votes for Edi Rama?

LaCivita: As I told you, I don't believe in these polls but...

Fevziu: These are not polls, they are the reality of the last elections...

LaCivita: The reality of the past elections… The way is very simple. It is very simple. It has to do with defining these last 12 years. It has to do with defining the failures of Edi Rama and his government. Not only in corruption but also in the way he has led the economy, which is very unstable. People do not feel very good about their future and it has to do not only with talking about what it is but also with offering the opportunity to fix things. Doctor Berisha plans to do both.

Fevziu: However, we have 2 problems here. The number of people who are against Rama is more than 50% of the voters, somewhere around 52-53% according to the last elections. However, the people who vote for the opposition and especially for the Democratic Party are half of these people. Why is there this gap between those who do not like Rama and those who vote for the opposition?

LaCivita: The party system and the system itself is one of the tricks of parliamentary elections. It makes things a little difficult. However, I think that motivating people to vote not only for change but also for a better future is a very good motivating reason and will bring the Democratic Party, where it should be, to victory.

Fevziu: There are many people who think that Rama is doing a very bad job, etc., but on the other hand, Berisha is 81 years old, 20 years older than Rama, he closed his cycle from 1991 to 2013. Why vote for someone who is 80 years old compared to someone who is 61 years old?

LaCivita: Doctor Berisha has more energy and vitality than Edi Rama who sits and looks at the computer screen and talks in front of his computer all day. Meanwhile, Doctor Berisha is constantly on the road meeting with citizens and engaging with them. Honestly, all that experience he brings changes everything. I also think that elections are about who has the best policies for the future. Clearly, these are Doctor Berisha's./ CNA