Former NYC Mayor Eric Adams Secures a 2nd Citizenship

Eric Adams just added a second passport to his portfolio. The former New York City mayor has been granted Albanian citizenship and a passport by special decree of President Bajram Begaj, according to Albania's official government journal and Adams' spokesperson. An English translation of the decree states that citizenship for "Eric Leroy Adams" takes effect immediately and is to be published in the country's official gazette, reports the Guardian.

Adams' ties to Albania drew notice last October, when he spent four days there near the end of his mayoral term and said he would advocate for a New York–Albania direct flight. "He loves Albania. He does," a rep for Adams told the New York Times, which notes Adams hosted three flag-raising ceremonies for Albania while mayor. It adds that New York's roughly 40,000 Albanians add up to the "world's largest Albanian expatriate population." The Guardian cites an Albanian law firm's website as explaining that it's possible for foreign adults to gain immediate citizenship so long as it is deemed as being in the national interest.