In a striking development in local governance, the Mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj, who has been in pre-trial detention since 10 February 2025, has instructed the municipal services to begin the festive annual decorations of the Albanian capital. According to an official communiqué from the Bashkia Tiranë, Veliaj has ordered the city’s Decoration and Events Enterprise to immediately commence the placement of lighting and ornamental installations across squares, streets and public spaces in preparation for the year-end celebrations.
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| Erion Veliaj speaking from the custody relating the 2025 end of the ear preparations |
Governance from detention: What it means
Veliaj’s instructions to the municipal services come as one of the first public administrative acts he is credited with since his detention. His case is well-documented: the Special Prosecution Office against Corruption and Organised Crime (SPAK) arrested Veliaj on 10 February 2025 on suspicion of corruption and money-laundering, linked to alleged diversion of public funds amounting to over €1 million.
Legal commentary notes that his continued detention while still an elected mayor raises complex questions about the separation of powers, local government continuity and the rule of law in Albania.
That Veliaj is apparently exercising functions — even indirectly or via proxies — while in detention has sparked debate on governance legitimacy. One article argues that the case “tests the balance between local elected mandates and central government power” in Albania.
What are the specific orders?
According to the municipality’s release:
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The Decoration & Events unit is to immediately begin installing lighting and festive ornaments in public squares, streets, and municipal spaces.
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The work must comply with “the highest standards of safety and technical and aesthetic criteria.”
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In addition, under the above‐mentioned decision by the Council of Ministers, ministerial buildings will be decorated according to institutional demands.
These orders entail logistical, aesthetic and safety dimensions: planning of light schemes, procurement of decorations, adherence to technical standards (electric safety, public assembly norms), and coordination across municipal services.
Why the timing and importance?
The year-end holiday season provides an opportunity for cities to enhance public morale, civic pride and tourism appeal. For Tirana, which has seen an active municipal agenda under Veliaj (and indeed before his detention) focusing on renovation of public space, green initiatives and urban renewal, the decorations form part of a broader image-building and public service presentation.
Yet, the current context adds additional layers:
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The mayor is detained, raising questions about who precisely executes his instructions, how municipal authority functions in his absence, and how legitimacy is maintained.
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It sends a signal of continuity: despite his legal difficulties, Veliaj (or at least his office) is asserting ongoing leadership of the city’s affairs.
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From a communications standpoint, it helps maintain a visible link between citizen-services (e.g., festive lighting) and the mayor’s brand.
Legal and democratic implications
Veliaj’s detention and his role (or perception thereof) point to several intersecting issues:
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Presumption of innocence: Though Veliaj faces serious charges, his ability to remain mayor or direct municipal affairs raises debates about due process, local autonomy and elected office rights.
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Local government continuity: If a mayor is detained, who takes over responsibilities? In Tirana’s case, the municipal council and deputy mayor have stepped in, but the very fact that the mayor issues directives creates a mixed governance picture.
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Rule of law: Analysts note that Albania’s eagerness to align with EU standards places cases like this under scrutiny: the insistence on pre-trial detention of a sitting mayor, and his continuing role, raise concerns about institutional independence.
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Political communication: The decorations act serves as a public-relations vehicle, reminding citizens of municipal activity and leadership — even in a challenging legal era for the mayor.
What it means for citizens and stakeholders
For residents of Tirana and stakeholders (businesses, contractors, tourism services), a functional decoration plan has direct implications: festive lighting can boost foot traffic, commercial activity, civic pride. The mayor’s directive signals that the municipality intends to maintain normal operations and avoid disruption of civic life despite unprecedented circumstances.
For municipal contractors and design teams, the early start means procurement and installation decisions may need to be accelerated, and coordination across municipal departments (public works, transport, energy) will be vital.
While the municipal plan to decorate Tirana for the holidays is in itself a standard civic activity, the context is unusual: the mayor who ordered it is in pre-trial detention and yet appears actively to direct city operations. This blend of municipal administration and legal-political drama makes the story noteworthy both locally and as a case-study in governance under crisis.
The measure underscores that in the capital of Albania, civic life and public services intend to continue moving forward — even amid legal turbulence at the highest local level. It remains to be seen how the municipal execution will play out, how the decorations will be received, and what broader lessons this situation will have for local governance and rule of law in Albania.