Rama "eradicates" Veliaj from Tirana, inaugurates his project without mentioning him

While Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj has been in prison since February of this year, Prime Minister Edi Rama appeared on Saturday night at the inauguration of the "Tirana Moons" installation in Mother Teresa Square.

This project, an oasis dedicated to books and modern architecture, was presented as a new public space for citizens, but in essence, behind it lies a tense history between two key figures of the majority.

During the ceremony, Prime Minister Rama described the installation as an "oasis dedicated to books" and spoke about new projects expected in the capital, without making any reference to the authorship of the project.

"I believe it is an oasis dedicated to books that will stay here for a while and will move. We will move to even bigger things. We are preparing a very beautiful project. Let's see how it turns out. There is an interesting thing, that every time there are architects in Tirana, Albania plays a football match. Thank you for the books. It is so good to have not only books, but donated by people who want to give something for their own pleasure. Woodworking masters have been found. It is simply something for their pleasure. I hope that this special weekend continues tomorrow as well ," said Rama.

After the ceremony, the Municipality of Tirana reacted through social networks, emphasizing that "Tirana Moons", the work of renowned architect Chris Precht, is a project initially presented by Veliaj himself during his term as mayor, but Rama did not mention his name at all. 

This installation, which was once a project of pride for Veliaj, is being inaugurated today without his presence, while Rama uses it as a platform to unveil his vision for Tirana, at a time when relations between them are more strained than ever.

But this is not the first time Rama has not mentioned Veliaj at inaugurations of projects initiated by him.

A short while ago,  Politiko.al brought up the case of the project for the Museum of Islamic Art and Heritage in the premises of the Toptan Palaces in the capital.

Prime Minister Edi Rama presented the project without mentioning Erion Veliaj's contribution at all, even though the latter had been its initiator and main supporter during his time as head of the Municipality of Tirana.

This action was interpreted as a clear signal of an attempt to "disappear" Veliaj from the capital's institutional legacy.

With Veliaj's "disappearance" from the political scene and Rama's control of projects and local government, the head of government is showing us more and more every day that all power is now in one hand./ S. GJ