Rama denied the "Report" investigation: Massimo D'Alema has a lobbying company in Albania, deals with cryptocurrencies

D'Alema's close relationship with Albania dates back to the time of the war in Kosovo, when the then prime minister supported NATO's bombing of Serbia. Over the years, he has increasingly intensified his trips to Tirana and his relations with the government of Edi Rama.

These relationships have made it possible for him to be a businessman not only at home (Italy).

Report has discovered that in addition to DL&M Advisor in Italy, opened in 2019, D'Alema has extended his interests in the world of consultancy to Albania: in fact, he has created a company called A&I in Tirana, which offers consultancy for companies that want to internationalize.

Journalist: Rama has very close relations with Massimo D'Alema

Ahmetaj: Massimo D'Alema is not a politician, but a businessman.

Reporter: What kind of business do you do?

Ahmetaj: Lobbyist!

In fact, Massimo D'Alema has a lobbying company in Italy 'DL&M Advisor' opened in 2019 and in the last two years it has invoiced almost 2 million euros, but in the balance sheets of this business there is no reference to possible interests of the former prime minister Italian in Albania.

Rama: I never talked about business with Massimo D'Alema, we always talked about politics and about Albania, then he is a free man, he can do whatever he wants.

Rai3: Even D'Alema has come to Albania to do business.

Rama: What trade? What did he do?

Rai3: He has set up a lobbying company.

Rama: What about the trade?!

Rai3: AEI

Rama: Unbelievable! I never talked about business with Massimo D'Aleman. I always talked about politics, I always talked about Albania, I always talked about... Then, he is free to do whatever he wants. Well to always present these things like this!

Rai3: Yes, he founded a lobbying company. D'Alema has a lobbying firm in Italy and has founded one here as well. AEI is called.

Frame: AEI

Rai3: AEI is called.

Rama: I know he works for Ernst & Young in Italy.

Rai3: There is a lobbying society in Italy as well.

Rama: And it is not a lobbying company.

Rai3: No, he has his own lobbying company in Italy.

Rama: I am not aware of any lobbying association, but I would ask you to leave Massimo D'Alema out of this mud swim we are doing together.

By consulting the records of the Chamber of Commerce of Albania, we discover that last year, Massimo D'Alema founded a company in Tirana that has its headquarters right here (in Tirana - Opera and Ballet Theater) in a building from the period of the fascist occupation in Albania, where the Italian Institute of Culture also has its offices.

D'Alema's Albanian company is called A&I. The former prime minister is the sole owner and as a social object he has the institutional consultancy of businesses that want to internationalize. So consulting and lobbying, but we don't get any other information from the document, so we have no choice but to turn to the business owner.

We meet him at the Book Fair, in Turin, where he makes an introductory presentation about Karl Marx during the presentation of Luciano Camfora's book on the German philosopher.

Journalist: Good evening, I'm Giorgio Mottola from Report, I don't know if you remember me. I wanted to ask you what Marx would think of lobbying activity in favor of financial capitalism?

D'Alema: I have nothing to say!

Journalist: May I ask you why you founded a lobbying company in Albania last year? A&I? Can you give me an answer?

D'Alema: This is neither the place nor the time. If you want, send me the questions and I will send you the answers.

Former Albanian Deputy Prime Minister Arben Ahmetaj offers us a track on which to work:

Ahmetaj: Between me and myself, I don't want to talk about D'Alema because for me he is great. His business is cryptocurrencies.

Reporter: Cryptocurrencies?

Ahmetaj: Acts as a lobbyist for cryptocurrency companies.

So, according to Ahmetaj, Massimo D'Alema lobbies in favor of companies that deal with cryptocurrencies, information that, not having access to the balance sheet documents and clients of his business in Albania, remains difficult to verify. Thus we are forced to return to D'Alema. 

Journalist: Is it true that you deal with cryptocurrencies in Albania? That's what they told us. Actually for businesses dealing with cryptocurrencies? Give me an answer, I'm asking you for a confrontation regarding some information I have.

D'Alema: The answer is no!

Journalist: How is it possible that you founded this consulting company in Albania? Why exactly in Albania?

D'Alema: This is neither the place nor the time. If you want, send me the questions and I will send you the answers.