Veliaj case/ From investigation to trial, what is expected now and how does this affect within the SP

The Special Prosecution Office against Corruption and Organized Crime has completed the investigations and submitted the file of Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj for trial at the Special Court of First Instance.

The SPAK file lists 13 charges against Veliaj and 12 others against his wife, Ajola Xoxa. 

At the conclusion of the preliminary investigations, it emerged that the couple Veliaj and Xoxa, in collaboration between themselves, in 9 separate cases, have received irregular benefits in the form of monetary amounts and real estate, from commercial entities and non-profit organizations, which in turn have obtained construction permits and benefited from public funds from the Municipality of Tirana.

But what does this step mean?

The conclusion of SPAK's investigations into the mayor of Tirana and his wife has sparked a heated debate on justice, transparency, and institutional independence.

Among the voices that see SPAK as an institution that is finally daring to touch the "untouchables", there are also many others who accuse this body of selective activity and a lack of transparency.

The Veliaj case is the best illustration of this dilemma. The investigation has been long, closed, and filled with procedural questions.

The seizure of phones without a court warrant, for example, raises serious concerns about respect for the fundamental rights of the individual.

It was Veliaj's lawyers who publicly declared that the searches and seizure of the phones were carried out without a court warrant, describing this as a violation of the legal procedure in force.

If SPAK uses methods that contradict the law, then it risks transforming from a defender of justice into an instrument of political pressure.

What is expected and how does it affect the PS?

If the Special Court finds Erion Veliaj guilty, this would be an important precedent in the history of Albanian justice.

This would cause political consequences within the SP. This is because the conviction of one of the figures closest to Edi Rama would create internal rifts, especially between the groups that support Veliaj as a possible successor.

Also, in public opinion, the Socialist Party may be perceived as a party that has tolerated corruption at high levels.

Pending trial, the Veliaj case remains one of the most sensitive files handled by the Special Prosecution Office. The decision of the Special Court is expected to have an impact not only on the legal fate of the mayor of Tirana and his wife, but also on the internal dynamics of the Socialist Party and the public perception of the justice institutions. How the process will develop and what consequences it will bring, remains to be seen. /S. Gj