DP demands Veliaj's dismissal and new elections in Tirana Municipality

The Democratic Party has demanded that Prime Minister Edi Rama dismiss Erion Veliaj, arrested by order of SPAK on charges of corruption and money laundering, and that the Tirana municipality go to elections.

In a statement to the media, the head of municipal councilors in the Democratic Party in the municipality of Tirana, Ilir Alimehmeti, requested that the same standard be used that was used in the case of other former mayors who have had problems with justice.

"We demand that the same standard be used that was used in the case of Elvis Roshi in Kavaja, Shukri Xhelili in Dibër, Safet Gjici in Kukës, Jorgo Goro in Himara, etc. For violations of a much lower magnitude than Veliaj, these former mayors have been dismissed or have been asked to resign, to pave the way for local elections, as defined by law," Alimehmeti further underlined.

According to Alimehmet, the appointment of the delegated mayor of Tirana is "in complete contradiction to the Constitution and every law in force."

"It is very clearly established that the central government and local government are independent of each other and the determination of their leaders comes only through the vote and the representative bodies elected through it. This means, very clearly, that the task in this case belongs to the President of the Municipal Council, Romina Kuko, who is silent, as well as the other 60 members of the Municipal Council elected through the vote," said Alimehmeti.

Alimehmeti emphasized that "we demand, in accordance with the Constitution and the law, the dismissal of the former mayor of Tirana, and the solution to the problem created by the Rama-Veliaj duo through the free vote of the stolen citizens of Tirana. Tirana needs a strong, sustainable solution and change. This solution is not offered by the Renaissance that brought its clinical death."