Opposition appeals to Council of Europe over alleged government control of Tirana Municipality
The Opposition Group of Municipal Councilors in Tirana has formally requested the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe to intervene over what they describe as the direct control of the municipality by Prime Minister Edi Rama following the arrest of Mayor Erion Veliaj.
Why is this important: The appeal raises concerns over local government autonomy and allegations of political interference. The opposition warns that the central government’s influence undermines democratic processes and could have electoral implications ahead of the May 11 parliamentary elections.
Context: The opposition’s appeal comes in the wake of Erion Veliaj’s arrest. Following the mayor’s detention, Rama publicly pledged to “watch over Tirana” and support it through what the city’s difficult moment.
While Rama has frequently attended municipality meetings and taken an almost daily interest in its activities, the day-to-day administration has officially been transferred to one of the municipality’s deputy mayors.
Rama, who served as Mayor of Tirana for three terms before becoming Prime Minister, has often portrayed himself as a “lover of Tirana”. His tenure as mayor from the early 2000s marked the beginning of Tirana’s urban transformation that reached its zenith under Veliaj with the continued and expanded financial and administrative support of Prime Minister Rama.
Key allegations: The opposition claims illegal interventions have compromised the municipality’s autonomy and marginalized the role of the Municipal Council. They accuse the government of using the municipality for political and economic gain, citing suspect construction permits and the misuse of administrative resources for electoral purposes.
The councilors argue that this level of control violates local governance laws and undermines citizen representation.
What’s next: The opposition urges judicial institutions to continue investigating all cases of corruption and legal violations tied to the municipality’s administration. They also call on the Council of Europe to monitor the situation and ensure local government independence is upheld.
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