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Soros v Trump: Socialists targets conservatives in upcoming European nation’s election
A former Albanian ambassador to the U.S. says the country’s upcoming election will be more like a runoff between the policies of President Trump and George and Alex Soros as opposition parties call foul over corruption by the ruling socialists.
«Albania is now effectively a one-party system pretending to hold elections,» Agim Nesho, former Albanian ambassador to the United States and the United Nations, told Fox News Digital. Nesho said May’s election «is a clash between ‘Trump-ists’ and ‘Soros-ists,’ with the latter fighting to keep their grip on corruption and the state in Albania.»
Amid accusations of corruption and the recent arrests of major Albanian political candidates, some critics are voicing concern over the integrity of upcoming elections for the country’s 140-member Parliament, now scheduled for May 11.
Nesho claimed the country’s ruling socialists «led by Prime Minister Edi Rama, is undemocratic and deeply rooted… for over 12 years, it has been supported by rich left-wing donors like Alex Soros, Rama’s close friend, and by projects like the USAID and Open Society [Foundations] judicial reform, which Rama co-opted and twisted to attack the center-right, conservative opposition.» He claimed the prime minister «also oversees a powerful narco-state that spreads fear and exerts controls over elections.»
ALBANIANS RALLY BY THE THOUSANDS AGAINST RULING SOCIALIST GOVERNMENT
Albanian opposition supporters hold a placard showing President Donald Trump and Albanian opposition leader Sali Berisha during an anti-government protest in in Tirana on Feb. 8, 2025. (Adnan Beci/AFP via Getty Images)
President Trump’s former campaign manager, Chris LaCivita, joined the campaign of Sali Berisha, the leader of Albania’s right-wing Democratic Party in February, according to Politico. LaCivita told the publication that Berisha would be «a true friend of the United States and… will successfully work with President Trump and the United States.» He called Rama a «puppet of George Soros.»
Berisha, formerly president and prime minister of Albania, told Fox News Digital that Rama’s government «banned my name and the name of the party in the voting list» during May 2023 elections. «When they failed with these measures,» he said they went further.
Parliament stripped Berisha’s legal immunity in December 2023 and placed him on house arrest under the accusation that he had used his position to help his son-in-law acquire private land. Berisha says that «official documents proved» the land belonged to his son-in-law’s grandfather, and had been confiscated by the former Communist regime.
Last November Berisha was released from house arrest. He was formally charged with corruption in September, the Associated Press reported.
Berisha’s spokesperson, Alfred Lela, told Fox News Digital that Berisha is now awaiting trial.
In addition to Berisha, Centrist Freedom Party leader and former Albanian President Ilir Meta was arrested on corruption charges in October 2024 in what one source told Fox News Digital was a «weaponization of the judiciary and law enforcement agencies.» Once an ally of Rama, Meta has frequently noted the increasing corruption and authoritarianism of the Rama government.
6 POPULIST LEADERS FACING LAWFARE AROUND WORLD
Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama speaks during a Security Council meeting on Ukraine, Sept. 20, 2023, at United Nations headquarters. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
George Soros’ Open Society Foundations (OSF) has invested more than $131 million in Albania between 1992 and 2020, effectively «supporting Mr. Rama’s rise to power,» the European Center for Law & Justice reported in 2023. The center alleges that OSF helped to allocate some of the $60 million that USAID spent on judicial reform in Albania between 2000 and 2015, explaining that Rama’s opposition has «denounced this reform as aimed at enabling the government to take control of the judiciary.»
OSF offices in Albania and the U.S. did not respond to numerous inquiries from Fox News Digital about allegations placed by its opponents against it.
According to an OSF website, the group has «earmarked $600,000 to support the process to overhaul Albania’s judicial system» in 2015 as part of Albania’s preparations to join the European Union. OSF claims «the money was used to fund a 20-strong expert panel, conduct public outreach and opinion surveys, establish a dedicated website, and organize conferences.»
Protesters gather in front of Prime Minister Edi Rama’s office in Tirana, Albania, demanding his resignation on Feb. 11, 2025. (Olsi Shehu/Anadolu via Getty Images)
NewsNation reported that Alex Soros often travels to Tirana, and calls it his «second home.» In July 2021, Soros posted a selfie with Rama on Instagram, identifying the prime minister as his «good friend.»
Berisha says he asked eight years ago for the U.S. Congress and European Parliament «to ban [George] Soros’ political activity in Europe because he is an enemy of democracy.»
In a December speech, Berisha said he would ban the OSF from Albania, calling the group a «real national threat,» according to Euronews Albania. Berisha said the Rama government’s mismanagement of resources and failure to mitigate poverty had forced the emigration of 45% of Albanians.
FORMER ALBANIAN PRESIDENT ARRESTED ON CORRUPTION CHARGES, OPPOSITION CLAIMS CHARGES ARE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED
Opposition leader Sali Berisha leaves the Parliament in Tirana, Albania, Dec. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Armando Babani)
Another impediment to Berisha’s run is the sanctions that former Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced against Berisha, his wife, and his children in May 2021. Blinken said Berisha had been «involved in corrupt acts, such as misappropriation of public funds and interfering with public processes, including using his power for his own benefit and to enrich his political allies and his family members at the expense of the Albanian public’s confidence in their government institutions and public officials.»
Berisha claimed that the sanctions against him were «entirely based on corrupted lobbying» by George Soros and Rama. He also said members of the Biden administration «turned [the] U.S. Embassy in Tirana into a huge prosecutorial office,» urging supporters, journalists and business people to stop supporting Berisha and his party, and that the State Department «asked other countries to sanction and to isolate me.»
Berisha said sanctions have hindered his campaign. «Of course it hurts me, because I’m not able to meet with Albanian Americans, which are so numerous, and in this election, for the first time, they have the right to vote for the party and candidate they prefer in their country of origin.»
Then-Albanian President Ilir Meta holds an American flag as he delivers a speech during a rally in Tirana, on March 2, 2020. (Gent Shkullaku/AFP via Getty Images)
A State Department spokesperson said they had no comment about Berisha’s claims that U.S. entities turned supporters against him. The State Department did not respond to questions from Fox News Digital about whether sanctions against Berisha should be upheld, or if they impede free and fair elections in Albania.
A spokesperson for former President Joe Biden did not respond to questions on whether his administration had a role in turning supporters against Berisha.
Nesho noted that sanctions «lack… evidence and had been rejected by Albanian public opinion. It looks like a political move, driven by Rama’s big money allies such as Alex Soros, who benefit both commercially and in influence from keeping Rama in power.» Nesho called on the Trump administration to «lift this ban immediately. It’s stirring anti-American feelings and clashes with the values of democracy and fairness,» he added.
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Nesho claimed that «the last three elections were unfair, full of intimidation and theft. The upcoming May 11, 2025, election shouldn’t just be a fake show – it needs to be truly free and fair. The U.S. and EU must push for this or ask that the vote is delayed until it can meet proper standards.»
Fox News Digital also reached out multiple times to Albanian Prime Minister Rama, the OSF, a member of the Albanian Foreign Ministry, and the Albanian Embassy in Washington, D.C., for comment about accusations of corruption and OSF election interference but received no response.
La aventura trágica de Hitler y la alianza que lo hundió
Soldados estadounidenses llegan a la costa en Normandía, Francia, en el histórico Día D de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, en junio de 1944. Foto: AP INTERNACIONAL
Texas congressional candidate dragged out, arrested after explosive redistricting hearing: ‘It is a shame!’
Texas redistricting hearing descends into chaos
Isaiah Martin, a Democrat running in the 18th Congressional District in Houston, had to be restrained and removed from Thursday’s House committee hearing on redistricting after exceeding his time to testify. (Isaiah Martin via Storyful)
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Tensions boiled over at the Texas Capitol Thursday night, when a Democratic congressional candidate was forcibly removed and arrested during a volatile redistricting hearing.
Isaiah Martin, running for Houston’s 18th Congressional District, defied repeated warnings to stop speaking after testimony accusing Republicans of rigging the redistricting process to appease President Donald Trump.
Footage from the hearing shows Martin collapsing as he was pulled from the room by authorities.
«History will NOT remember you for what you have DONE! It is a shame!» he yelled, prompting audible gasps from the crowd. He was charged with resisting arrest, criminal trespass and disrupting a public meeting.
RED STATE MAP BATTLE HEATS UP AS TRUMP PUSHES TEXAS PLAN TO RESHAPE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS
Isaiah Martin, center, a Democratic candidate for Texas’ 18th Congressional District, is confronted by sergeants during a redistricting hearing at the Texas Capitol in Austin, Thursday, after refusing to yield during a heated exchange with Republican lawmakers. (Texas House)
Martin was released from the Travis County Jail Friday, and all charges were dropped. He later posted a video on X thanking supporters and pledging to continue speaking out.
Martin began his testimony Thursday by challenging the legitimacy of the hearing.
«It just seems as if many are just sitting here going with their motions, and it makes sense because the game is rigged,» he said.
He then accused Texas Republicans of gerrymandering at Trump’s request.
«You gotta get Trump’s endorsement. That’s the name of the game to be a Republican nowadays,» Martin said. «Trump told every single one of you that he needs five seats. … But the real conversation we should be having … is that there will be a retaliation for that.»
Martin cited blue states he claimed are redrawing maps in response.
«Gov. Kathy Hochul said that she will be gerrymanding Republicans out,» he said. «The same thing is gonna happen in New Jersey.»
Martin also attacked Texas’ leadership over economic issues.
«We live in a state that is unaffordable … property taxes going up … despite the fact that you Republicans have been in office for nearly 30 straight years,» he said.
BETO O’ROURKE CALLS FOR DEMOCRATS TO BE ‘RUTHLESS’ IN PURSUIT OF POWER, BACKS NEWSOM’S GERRYMANDERING PROPOSAL
Isaiah Martin, a Democratic candidate for Texas’s 18th Congressional District, is forcibly removed by sergeants during a redistricting hearing in Austin July 24, 2025, after refusing to yield following heated testimony criticizing Republican lawmakers and President Donald Trump. (Isaiah Martin via Storyful)
Criticizing the timing of the redistricting process, he added, «After one of the worst mass casualty events in our state’s history, you choose to go and gerrymander people out of their seats.»
Rep. Cody Vasut, the House Redistricting Committee chair, attempted to regain order, but Martin refused to yield.
«No, I’m not going to finish. Because I’m … I’m NOT finished!»
Martin then turned his ire toward Trump.
«You can thank your failed, senile, dilapidated, Epstein-partying with president for all of the work that we’re about to do to every single one of you,» he said. «You did this, you caused this and this is the result of you and your work.»
Vasut instructed state House sergeants to remove Martin. As Martin was dragged from the room, audience members shouted, «Get off of him!»
Martin continued shouting, «America will rise up against you!»
The committee resumed without commenting on the disruption.
The Texas State Capitol in Austin, where Isaiah Martin was arrested for refusing to yield during testimony Thursday. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
Neither Martin’s campaign nor Gov. Greg Abbott’s office responded to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment.
Abbott has previously described the redistricting effort as a compliance move following court rulings against coalition districts.
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In a July 7 letter cited by The Dallas Examiner, the Department of Justice flagged TX‑18 as one of four congressional districts in Texas that may involve unconstitutional racial gerrymandering through «coalition district» configurations.
Trump has publicly called on state lawmakers to secure five additional Republican House seats through redistricting.
The map remains unfinished, with hearings continuing Saturday in Houston and Monday in Arlington.
Fox News’ Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.
INTERNACIONAL
El papa León XIV recibió al enviado del patriarca Cirilo en el Vaticano en un gesto de acercamiento con la Iglesia Ortodoxa Rusa
El Vaticano fue escenario este sábado del primer encuentro entre el papa León XIV y el metropolita Antoni, jefe de relaciones exteriores de la Iglesia Ortodoxa Rusa y emisario del patriarca Cirilo, según comunicó el patriarcado de Moscú. El encuentro se produce en un contexto de relaciones distantes entre ambas Iglesias, marcadas por la postura del patriarca ortodoxo frente a la guerra en Ucrania.
Durante la reunión, Antoni transmitió a León XIV “los saludos en nombre de Cirilo y las felicitaciones por su elección como Primado de la Iglesia Católica Romana”, informó el comunicado del patriarcado ruso. El papa, en respuesta, expresó su gratitud a Cirilo “por sus buenos deseos y destacó la importancia de desarrollar las relaciones con la Iglesia Ortodoxa Rusa”. Según la nota, el diálogo incluyó cuestiones sobre el estado de las relaciones ortodoxo-católicas y los conflictos internacionales, con especial foco en Ucrania y Medio Oriente.
En el curso de la conversación, Antoni denunció ante el pontífice la situación de la Iglesia Ortodoxa Ucraniana, aludiendo a una persecución sufrida en el actual contexto de conflicto armado. En declaraciones previas al diario La Repubblica, el metropolita manifestó su expectativa de debatir las “perspectivas de desarrollo de las relaciones entre la Iglesia Ortodoxa Rusa y la Iglesia Católica”, subrayando la necesidad de fortalecer la cooperación cristiana en un “mundo en rápida secularización”.
El papa León XIV, primer estadounidense —nacionalizado peruano— en asumir el cargo, accedió al pontificado en mayo y desde entonces ha promovido esfuerzos diplomáticos en favor de la paz. Hace semanas recibió en el Vaticano al presidente ucraniano Volodimir Zelensky y mantuvo conversaciones telefónicas con el presidente ruso Vladimir Putin. León XIV ha apelado al Kremlin para que realice un “gesto” a favor de la paz y propuso, a mediados de mayo, la mediación del Vaticano en las negociaciones entre las partes en conflicto. Sin embargo, el Kremlin descartó la Santa Sede como punto neutral para un diálogo, por lo que las conversaciones continuaron en la ciudad turca de Estambul.
El papa y el patriarca Cirilo mantuvieron en 2016 un histórico encuentro en Cuba, aunque desde el inicio de la guerra en Ucrania sus relaciones se enfriaron. Cirilo apoya abiertamente la invasión rusa, que califica de “guerra santa”, postura que motivó un cruce de declaraciones con el predecesor de León XIV, el papa Francisco. No obstante, el metropolita Antoni, nombrado jefe de relaciones exteriores en 2022, continuó los contactos con el Vaticano y estuvo presente en representación de Cirilo durante el funeral de Francisco.
En la entrevista concedida a La Repubblica días antes del encuentro, Antoni consideró que el anterior pontífice mantenía un “enfoque equilibrado” respecto a Ucrania, aunque señaló que desconocía de momento la posición de León XIV sobre el conflicto.
En un mensaje enviado este sábado a la asamblea nacional del movimiento católico Pax Christi en Estados Unidos, León XIV reiteró su llamado a la no violencia y recordó la importancia de que los católicos “se conviertan en creadores de paz en su vida cotidiana”. En el texto subrayó: “Entre los numerosos desafíos que nuestro mundo enfrenta actualmente, incluyendo los conflictos armados generalizados, las divisiones entre los pueblos y los desafíos de la migración forzada, los esfuerzos por promover la no violencia son más necesarios que nunca”.
León XIV también recordó el llamado que realizó al asumir el pontificado, afirmando que en la actualidad se necesita “una paz desarmada, humilde y perseverante”. Instó a los miembros de la Iglesia a que estén presentes “especialmente en las periferias”, y a que las comunidades locales sean “casas de paz” donde se practique la justicia y el perdón, reforzando así el papel reconciliador de la institución.
El metropolita Antoni ha ocupado la jefatura de relaciones exteriores del patriarcado de Moscú desde 2022, año de la invasión rusa a Ucrania. Anteriormente, desempeñó el cargo de enviado de la Iglesia ortodoxa en Italia, participando activamente en la interlocución entre Moscú y la Santa Sede en medio de un escenario internacional tenso.
(Con información de AFP y EFE)
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