If in politics, strong turns are often first tested by advisers and lobbyists, what Alastair Campbell said can be taken as a signal. The former director of communications and strategy for former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair, who served Edi Rama for electoral campaigns, writing in Western newspapers and opening doors, has recently issued a strong statement, which makes you guess about many things. Given that he is a personal friend and at the same time a beneficiary of Rama's ``generosity``, it is unlikely that he could speak about such a delicate issue without consulting them. In his podcast «The Rest is Politics» he said;
"Trump has a habit of burning (harming) people as soon as they get too close to him. Where are my friend Edi Rama in Albania getting his problems? From the fact that he has this development/construction deal with Jared..."
So if you listen to the message (video below), it sounds like it was Trump who asked Rama for a favor, a favor for which the latter is paying the price.
How true this is is beyond debate. But what is important is why Campbell is saying this: As a comment of his own? It's hard to express independent opinions when you're under a ``friendly contract.'' So, as a test to test the idea that Rama didn't want to give Sazan and Zvërnec, but Trump's power forced him?
Should this be seen as an attempt to backtrack, as the protesters are demanding? Or simply as a maneuver to appear as a victim in the eyes of Europeans who will not tolerate this deal?
One thing is clear, knowing that "The Rest is Politics" is one of the most popular and influential podcasts in the United Kingdom and beyond, existing since 2022, these words were hardly uttered innocently.
If Alastair Campbell says that Rama is burning because he wanted to be near Trump, this is a phrase to take note of, although it is too soon to tell whether a change of plan is being tested, or simply a justification tactic is being pumped up.
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