Three words about Mayor Veliaj

By Genc Pollo

1. Arrest

For all those who rejoiced to see Mayor Veliaj arrested and locked in a cell (but also for those who were saddened): Arrest is not a punishment; it is not proven guilt, much less admitted guilt. Only the latter, through a judicial verdict, would be justice done.

The presumption of innocence of the defendant remains in force even when it is a mouthful that cannot be swallowed (public opinion has other rules).

Veliaj's arrest is a detention which, according to the law, aims to prevent escape, destruction of evidence, intimidation of witnesses and the commission of other crimes. With the information made public, none of these cases seem convincing to justify detention in the Veliaj case. Perhaps SPAK and GjKKO have information that we do not. But the precedents do not speak in their favor. The detention was abusive (excessive or unjustified) in the cases of Berisha, Beleri, Meta, Dako, and perhaps Beqja, Koka Bllako, Frroku, etc.

2. Accusation

Based on SPAK's announcement, the accusation against Mayor Veliaj is disappointing because it does not refer to unprecedented criminal cases such as the Tirana incinerator (150 million euros for nothing) or 5D (the corruption rate is neither 10% nor 20% but 100%).

The accusation refers to a banal and typical scheme for the 21st century Tirana municipality. Veliaj has given municipal favors (contracts, permits, etc.) to businessmen x, y, z in return for bribes that the latter have deposited with his wife. This scheme seems well-investigated and for this the magistrates and agents of SPAK/BKH should be congratulated heartily. When I say banal and typical, I do not intend to normalize the criminality of the officers but unfortunately to describe the reality. But I also want to emphasize that the criminal scheme above is not the real scandal. The latter is Erion Veliaj's reaction. Seven hours after the arrest, Veliaj reacted on Facebook by insulting prosecutors and critics in the media and opposition, emphasizing family suffering and worrying about his absence in the May election campaign alongside the SP and its president. But he does not even give a concrete explanation for the charges detailed in the prosecution's announcement. These charges have been known since mid-December, but during these two months Veliaj has not attempted to explain and argue his innocence in public. If he were a private person, legal protection only in court would be common. But Veliaj is neither and does not want to become a private person.

But before an official reaches the court of law, he usually passes through the court of public opinion. See the Berisha case, where he himself, his son-in-law, his daughter and his lawyer have presented their defense in detail in the Partizani case from the beginning and onwards.

3. Office

If the two paragraphs above describe the conduct in a criminal trial, it should not be forgotten that the Veliaj case is absolutely political, given that he holds the second most powerful office in the republic in terms of budget, administration and territory. Therefore, when the mayor is accused, the rules are different from those when a pickpocket is accused.

In November 2023, Portuguese police raided the residence of Prime Minister Costa, leading to his resignation and a detailed explanation of his innocence. Further investigation proved that prosecutors had mistaken a Costa who had been caught wiretapping for the prime minister. Meanwhile, in Portugal, elections had sent Costa's party into opposition. The Costa case may be extreme, but similar behavior is common in Europe and is worth taking as a model.

 Just as we need to remember Erion Veliaj's reaction after prosecutors broke the 5D scandal: "I hope that (the directors) prove their innocence, I wish with all my heart to believe until the end in the innocence of all my associates"; then he also utters the unspoken sentence: "This is a country that does not easily forgive success!" Since then, there has been no word from Veliaj about taking personal responsibility; for not controlling municipal "works", for ignoring concrete and detailed denunciations months ago for everything that the criminal investigation proved. Not even an apology for the judicial prosecution of the denunciators that Veliaj announced as soon as they opened their mouths. In the Municipal Council, Veliaj blocked meetings for months, and when the council finally met, measures had been taken: the opposition was not given the floor at all, the microphones of the opposition councilors turned out to be defective (just in case), and a socialist councilor provoked a fistfight with an opposition colleague.

Meanwhile, there is no critical stance towards Veliaj from the SP (European practice in similar cases ranges from calling for explanations to expulsion from the party or urging him to resign). Rama put his stamp on him in December by taking him to his defense: he attacked the prosecutor and rebuked journalists for the “media massacre” against the Veliaj family. Even today, in his morning monologue, Rama again defended Veliaj (and criticized the prosecutor), even increasing the dose a little.

It is known which is the oldest profession in the world, but for the second in line, theft is the most serious candidate. Therefore, less attention is needed for Ajola's bribes and more indignation and reaction for the political misery witnessed by Veliaj and his supporters.

As well as thanks and respect for the tireless protesters who have gathered every week in front of the city hall since April 2024. They are today's hope that politics will also include accountability.

As well as political pressure for prosecutors not to just run after the sparrow of corruption and leave aside its elephants.