From Brussels to the FBI, how Rama's international allies were caught up in scandals

Scandals in recent years involving senior international officials have also affected figures who are considered "close friends" of Prime Minister Edi Rama.

From former European Union diplomats to former FBI agents to former Balkan leaders, a series of powerful names have faced accusations, investigations and legal proceedings, raising questions about the political connections that the head of the Albanian government has cultivated over the years.

The most recent is the case of Federica Mogherini, the former EU foreign policy chief, who is under investigation for potential abuse of EU funds. But who are the other names involved in the scandal besides Mogherini? Let's recall some of them. 

Federica Mogherini, former EU High Representative and current Rector of the College of Europe, was recently embroiled in a financial scandal, after European institutions launched investigations into possible misuse of funds during 2021–2022.

Mogherini has often been described as a political ally of Edi Rama in Brussels, supporting his rhetoric about opening negotiations and "stability" in the region. 

Charles McGonigal,  former FBI official
One of the scandals that directly affected the Albanian government was the arrest and subsequent conviction of the former FBI counterintelligence chief in New York, Charles McGonigal.

Court documents showed that McGonigal had developed secret contacts with Albanian officials, including Prime Minister Rama, during the time he was accused of illicit financial ties to foreign oligarchs. His role in Albania became the subject of a wide political debate, as his visits, meetings and interventions coincided with important developments in energy and business deals.

Sebastian Kurz,  former Austrian chancellor, convicted of perjury
Another name publicly linked to Rama is former Austrian chancellor Sebastian Kurz, who after a series of scandals faced justice and was convicted of giving false statements. Kurz and Rama have had close political and public relations, with Kurz frequently visiting Tirana and promoting Rama as a reliable partner in the region.  

Florian Coldea,  former head of the Romanian secret service

Coldea had been appointed as Rama's "external advisor" on security matters.  
According to media in Romania and Albania, he was put under investigation for corruption after allegations that he demanded large sums of money (around 700,000 euros) to influence justice in favor of a businessman.  

Tony Blair, former British Prime Minister

Blair has not been arrested, but he has been involved in many major financial and lobbying scandals such as the Panama Papers leak (connections to offshore companies on behalf of his wife), lobbying contracts with authoritarian regimes, and suspicious payments from foreign governments.
His organization, the Tony Blair Institute, has often been criticized for its lack of transparency and for funding from undemocratic governments. Meanwhile, Rama has publicly admitted that he was advised by Tony Blair.

Thus, as can be seen, some of the international figures who have been presented for years as the closest partners of the Albanian Prime Minister are today facing serious accusations, legal proceedings or convictions.

The list of "friends" in trouble is growing, and each of these cases raises new questions about the nature and purpose of these alliances. SF