In a development that surprised few but entertained many, the Albanian Council of Ministers today (September 25) officially dismissed Erion Veliaj from his post as Mayor of Tirana. The decision, signed personally by Prime Minister Edi Rama (a rare pen stroke indeed), comes after months of legal drama, accusations, and a theatrical clash between Veliaj and his once-adoring allies.
Belinda Balluku, the Deputy PM, has been entrusted with steering the Socialist Party’s campaign in Tirana. And, just to keep things tidy, Rama has already hand-picked Ogerta Manastirliu as the party’s candidate for the upcoming snap elections. Smooth timing, isn’t it?
A “unanimous” political consensus
On September 23, both majority and opposition councilors in Tirana voted unanimously to support Veliaj’s dismissal. Yes, unanimity—something Albanian politics hadn’t seen in decades. Irony aside, it seems that Veliaj’s fall from grace was the only glue strong enough to unite rivals.
Veliaj had pleaded for the right to defend himself before the council, claiming the process was unlawful. Even some opposition voices suggested he deserved his say. But in the end, his request was denied—by the very same collaborators who once praised him as Rama’s golden heir.
From rising star to fallen chess piece
Veliaj’s story is as Albanian as it gets. Emerging in 2004 as the energetic face of the Mjaft movement, he rallied against corruption and power abuse—only to later be accused of exactly those sins. By 2013, he was welcomed into Rama’s Socialist Party, quickly climbing the ladder: Minister of Social Welfare, then Mayor of Tirana, and finally a whispered successor to Rama himself.
That fairy tale ended in February 2025 when SPAK arrested him on 13 charges, ranging from corruption and money laundering to smuggling forbidden items into prison. His wife Ajola Xoxa, former MP Klotilda Bushka, and several businessmen also feature in this courtroom saga.
The signature that says it all
What raises eyebrows is Rama’s personal signature on Veliaj’s dismissal. Normally, such paperwork is handled by deputies. But this time, Rama inked it himself—sending a clear message: this wasn’t just bureaucracy, this was choreography.
Was it justice? Perhaps. Was it politics? Absolutely. Some would call it an elegant checkmate by Rama, removing a former ally turned liability, while paving the way for his chosen candidate in Tirana. One might even argue Veliaj’s arrest and dismissal serve as both “anti-corruption showcase” and “succession control.” Two birds, one calculated stone.
Final thoughts
Veliaj’s journey—from activist firebrand to political powerhouse, and now to inmate—shows how fast fortunes turn in Albania’s political theater. Yet, the bigger spectacle may not be Veliaj’s downfall but Rama’s masterful timing. After all, in Albanian politics, accidents are rare; choreography is everything.