The publication of the conversation between Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj and minister Toni Gogu has sparked debate in the studio of the “Now” program on Euronews Albania. Journalist Bledian Koka raised doubts about the reasons that may have prompted Veliaj to make the communication public, suggesting that the message he expected to receive while in prison was not the one that reached him. “Veliaj expected a different message in prison, and another one came to him”, Koka said, calling into question the communication that may have taken place through minister Gogu.
The debate then shifted to the leadership of the Municipality of Tirana and the possibility that Veliaj delegate his responsibilities to another person. “Do you think that at this point Veliaj should hand over the job to someone else?”, Koka asked socialist MP Erjon Malaj. In his response, Malaj acknowledged that the functioning of the capital under current circumstances presents problems, but stressed that Veliaj’s mandate derives from the votes of citizens.
“The city is not functioning in this way, that is obvious, but the votes the socialists received have given him this responsibility. We cannot comment on the decisions of the justice system”, Malaj stated. The clash in the studio brought back into focus the debate over the mayor’s ability to exercise his functions given his judicial situation and responsibility for the continuity of Tirana’s administration.
