Albanian Group Hires Lobbyists to Meet Trump Admin

Albania’s social-democratic political party, the Socialist Movement for Integration (LSI), has signed a retainer agreement with consulting and lobbying firm The McKeon Group in a bid introduce members of that party to the incoming Trump Administration.

McKeon Group has been hired to secure LSI members’ attendance at Trump’s Presidential inauguration on January 20, to arrange meetings between key D.C. leaders and to thereafter help the LSI Party “develop a good and very special relationship with the incoming Administration and Congress,” according to Foreign Agents Registration Act documents filed in January.

LSI was formed by former Albanian Prime Minister Ilir Meta, a former member of the Socialist Party of Albania who founded his own party in 2004, which he continues to lead to this day.

Until two years ago, LSI was part of a governing coalition with conservative political body Democratic Party of Albania. That political party last year hired public affairs giant Podesta Group as part of an ongoing attempt to improve Albanian / U.S. relations.

The initial contract runs for six months and began on January 1, with plans to renew the agreement for successive six-month terms thereafter. McKeon Group will receive $15,000 per month for the work.

The pact was signed by McKeon Group chairman and CEO Howard “Buck” McKeon, the retired California congressman who was formerly chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.