Constitutional Court overturns government decision, reinstates Erion Veliaj as Mayor of Tirana

Erion Veliaj has officially been reinstated as Mayor of Tirana following a ruling by Albania’s Constitutional Court, which overturned the government’s decision to remove him from office.

Why is this important: The ruling is a direct blow to the government and marks a legal and political victory for Veliaj, who had challenged his dismissal as unconstitutional. It also cancels the presidential decree setting a new election date in the capital, effectively restoring Veliaj’s full mandate.

Context: The Court ruled 5 to 3 in favor of annulling the government’s decision, which had been based on a proposal by the Tirana Municipal Council. That decision had sparked controversy and legal debate over the limits of executive power in removing elected local officials.

Veliaj had been suspended from office following his arrest earlier this year in connection with an ongoing SPAK investigation. He challenged the dismissal on grounds that it violated constitutional protections for elected mandates.

What else: The decision reinforces the precedent that elected mayors cannot be removed without due process or final conviction, aligning with recent recommendations from the Venice Commission.
The annulment of President Bajram Begaj’s decree setting an election date in Tirana means there will be no new mayoral election, and Veliaj will resume his duties immediately.