Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj has formally requested to attend the session of the Socialist Party’s National Assembly, which is expected to be held on November 14. Through a request addressed to the General Secretary of the PS and to SPAK, Veliaj has made known that he wishes to take part in this party activity in order to personally express his positions on developments and the functioning of the party’s structures.
In his request, the mayor emphasizes that participation in the Assembly is important for presenting proposals and demands related to the responsibilities of the leading bodies and the future of the Socialist Party.
“My participation in the session of the National Assembly is of particular importance, as I intend to personally present my positions, proposals and demands on issues related to the functioning of the Socialist Party,” states Veliaj’s request.
It remains to be seen whether his request will receive the appropriate approval and whether Veliaj will be able to attend the session of November 14.
Full letter from Erion Veliaj
Urgent request to guarantee participation and the exercise of statutory rights at the session of the National Assembly of the Socialist Party, dated November 14, 2026, either in person or, alternatively, via videoconference.
Dear General Secretary,
Dear Prosecutor,
The session of the National Assembly of the Socialist Party of Albania, the most important body for the direction and political decision-making of the party between two congresses, has been announced for November 14, 2026.
I am a member of the National Assembly, of the Presidency of the Socialist Party, political leader of the Tirana county, chairman of the Socialist Party of Tirana, as well as the elected mayor of the Municipality of Tirana. Consequently, my participation in this session is directly linked to the exercise of the rights deriving from my membership and my functions in the party’s leading bodies.
I am currently held in pretrial detention at the IEVP Fier, in implementation of the personal security measure imposed on me. This circumstance restricts my freedom of movement, but it does not, in itself, entail the loss of my political and statutory rights, insofar as their exercise is compatible with the lawful restrictions arising from the security measure and the detention regime. The right to organize and to participate in political life enjoys constitutional and conventional protection. Articles 17 and 46 of the Constitution, as well as Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights, require that restrictions on the exercise of these rights have a legal basis and respect the principle of proportionality.
My participation in the session of the National Assembly is of particular importance, as I intend to personally present my positions, proposals and demands on issues related to the functioning of the Socialist Party, the exercise of the responsibilities of its bodies and the future of the political organization to which I belong.
For these reasons, I request that my participation in the session of the National Assembly of November 14, 2026 be made possible, preferably in person and, if this is not realized, through a direct audiovisual link.
I. REQUEST TO THE GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE SOCIALIST PARTY
As the authority responsible for organizing and coordinating the activity of the party’s bodies, I ask you to take the organizational and technical measures necessary to guarantee my effective participation in the session of the National Assembly.
In particular, I request:
To be officially notified of the time, venue, agenda and documents to be considered at the session scheduled for 14 November 2026. To take measures to enable my physical attendance, if this is authorized by the competent authorities.
Alternatively, to ensure the technical infrastructure for my direct connection by videoconference from IEVP Fier, with the possibility to follow the discussions, to take the floor, to submit proposals and to exercise the other rights recognized to me by the Statute.
To coordinate in advance with the administration of IEVP Fier and the General Directorate of Prisons the implementation of the audiovisual link, while respecting the security requirements of the institution. If my direct participation is not made possible, I ask that my written position be presented to the Assembly and reflected in the meeting documentation, without this alternative being considered an automatic substitute for the right to participate.
Participation in a collegial body is not limited merely to being informed of its decisions. It includes the real opportunity to listen, to be heard, to discuss and to take part in decision-making, in accordance with the statutory rules.
II. REQUEST TO THE PROSECUTOR IN CHARGE OF THE CASE
Since I am under the personal security measure of “detention in prison”, I ask you to urgently examine the legal possibility of my physical participation in the session of the National Assembly and, within your competence, either to give the corresponding approval or to forward the request without delay to the competent decision-making authority. If physical participation cannot be realized, I ask that my participation through videoconference from the premises of IEVP Fier be examined and made possible.
This alternative does not require my removal from the institution, does not affect the implementation of the security measure, and can be organized under the supervision of the penitentiary administration, respecting the legal and security conditions. I emphasize that my request does not aim to change, suspend or avoid the personal security measure. It aims only to find a proportionate way to exercise a political and statutory right, without undermining the lawful purposes of pre-trial detention. For this reason, I ask that any restriction or refusal be based on a concrete legal basis, be justified, and that the possibility of remote participation be considered as a less restrictive alternative.
III. URGENCY OF CONSIDERATION
Since the session of the National Assembly has been scheduled for 14 November 2026, I ask that this request be considered immediately and that the decision be communicated to me in sufficient time to organize my participation. The absence of a response before the session takes place would make the exercise of my right to take part in a specific political decision-making process practically impossible.
