Before the verdict/ Maneuvers to get Veliaj out of the cell

Erion Veliaj's letter from prison, in which he stripped the deputy mayor, Anuela Ristani, of her right to represent him and make decisions at the head of this institution, has been seen by many as an attempt to reinstate the mayor, who has been in prison for a year and a half. Veliaj stripped the deputy of her right to sign on the pretext that she did not obey his orders and even removed his people from key positions even when they had won the right to continue in court. According to the acting mayor, this has hindered his constitutional functions. It is curious that he has not delegated his powers to anyone else, leaving the municipality in a state of chaos, as if he is announcing his return to the helm.

But what makes the situation even more curious is the stance that Rama is taking towards this event. When Veliaj had made a previous attempt to sack Ristan and appoint Sara Goxhaj in her place, his letter was thrown in the trash by Rama, and “Lali” himself had turned his back on it. The curious fact is that this time, the prime minister’s office, which “lost” the battle for the mayor’s dismissal and the right to call new elections in the capital in the Constitutional Court, is acting completely differently. With a clear statement, Rama’s cabinet emphasized that not only is this act a constitutional right of the imprisoned mayor, but it also tried to emphasize that keeping him in prison is an absurd situation that burdens the citizens of Tirana who want services. So, so far, Rama has not only not intervened, but on the contrary, he has given Veliaj the right and indirectly sent the message that maintaining the municipality without an elected mayor is to the detriment of the residents of Tirana. 

Of course, this 180-degree pirouette by Rama needs an explanation. The problem becomes even more acute if you add to the equation the fact that on September 15, the Supreme Court will pronounce on whether or not to release Veliaj from prison. Everything is related to the decision of the Constitutional Court, which requested a review of his arrest measure. On May 25, 2026, the Constitutional Court overturned the decision of the Supreme Court that left the mayor in prison, arguing that this court had not provided an exhaustive argument for the proportionality of his detention, especially considering the fact that the detainee was a politician elected by the citizens. 

So, right before this trial, Veliaj shows his power and dismisses the man installed in the municipality with Rama's support, he does not delegate his powers to anyone else and at this point, the prime minister who had left him in prison, who formally replaced him in the municipality, who eliminated all his supporters from the lists of deputies and who ultimately forced the socialist councilors to dismiss him and signed this dismissal by announcing elections in the capital, makes a statement that Veliaj is right.

Could it be that Rama, who wanted him in prison until yesterday, is now benefiting from Veliaj being released? Have they both found their groove and are acting in coordination? 

One thing is certain. Since the protests began, for three months in a row, the expression has often been heard in the square: "Oh Erion, you bastard, wait for Edi, he's coming." The flamingos did not only demand Rama's resignation, but some went even further, to his imprisonment. While this pressure may increase in September, while suspicions of other scandals are circulating in the air, Edi Rama may have calculated that keeping all the pressure on himself would only tarnish his image. 

Veliaj's release from prison and his return to office would send crowds to the city hall. In conditions where Balluku is not surrendering to SPAK, taken under the protection of her party, Lali's reappearance on the scene would increase the targets of the revolt by removing the focus from personalization only on Rama. For a while, the anger could be distributed to the "new alliance of scumbags". Only such a scenario would give a "colpo ti grazia" to the reform in the justice system. With Veliaj out, with Beqaj, Koka, Gjushi, free, with Bela not surrendered and Berisha long since released from isolation, the entire edifice raised with fury by the Euro-Atlantics would be consoled only with Ilir Meta's day in prison. So even if Rama has changed his mind and may want Erion out, with or without evidence, the credibility of the system, without asking about them, wants Veliaj imprisoned. This will be the big dilemma that the Supreme Court will face in two weeks.  

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