The Mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj, has asked Taulant Balla, head of the Socialist Party (PS) parliamentary group, to initiate the creation of a parliamentary inquiry commission to investigate his claims of threats and pressure from Prime Minister Edi Rama, carried out through the Minister of Justice, Toni Gogu.
Veliaj demands an investigation into whether his transfer from Durrës to Fier and the conditions of his pretrial detention were used as tools to force him to accept organizing protests and to resign. He says he is ready to testify under oath and present evidence before the Parliament, and asks that his claims be investigated institutionally.
PS parliamentary group leader Taulant Balla said today that facing justice is a personal matter and that the Socialist Party should not be involved in this process. Balla said he considers Veliaj a friend, but added that he must face this process himself, without involving the symbols or structures of the PS.
“The PS is not anyone’s shield in facing justice, and from this standpoint, I consider Veliaj a friend, but in facing justice he must do it himself, without involving the PS fist and rose”, Balla said.
STATEMENT BY THE MAYOR OF TIRANA, ERION VELIAJ
Today I formally addressed the Chairman of the Socialist Parliamentary Group, Taulant Balla, with a request to initiate the creation of a parliamentary inquiry commission on the interference and threats that I have stated were exercised against me by Prime Minister Edi Rama, through the Minister of Justice.
I have asked that it be investigated whether my transfer from Durrës to Fier and the conditions of my pretrial detention were used as instruments of pressure to force me to accept organizing protests in Tirana and to resign from the mandate entrusted to me by the citizens of the capital.
I am ready to testify under oath before the Parliament, in accordance with the law, to confront Minister of Justice Toni Gogu, and to present any evidence I have. I have also asked that Prime Minister Edi Rama be subject to the same standard of accountability.
I addressed this request to the parliamentary majority of my party, because constitutional oversight of the government cannot be conditioned by the political affiliation of those who must be held accountable. I have also informed the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe and the diplomatic corps accredited in Albania, and I have requested the immediate preservation of documentary and audiovisual evidence.
I do not ask that the Parliament accept my statements as given. I ask that it investigate them. The mandate of a mayor derives from the vote of the citizens, and the vote of the citizens cannot become the object of political blackmail.
Erion Veliaj
Mayor of Tirana
11 November 202