Even though he is part of local politics, and independent from the national government, it seems that Mayor of Tirana Erion Veliaj is particularly concerned about the parliamentary elections.
He has even adopted the habit of setting ultimatums, arrogantly claiming that they will be held on June 18, even if the LSI and PD decide not to participate. Comparing elections with shopping, Mayor Veliaj declared:
We live in a political context where there are many people to pass a large part of their day with whether or not we will have elections. Of course we’ll have elections on June 18.
An elderly lady told me on the opening day of the New Bazaar: if one of the stalls isn’t open, no big deal, you got another shop. That’s also the thing with politics. On June 18 anyone goes to their own stall, who doesn’t come, no big deal, there many other stalls.
Keeping the same decisive position against the opposition as Prime Minister Edi Rama, Mayor Veliaj said that the PS has an alternative to offer to the citizens, so there is no fear to enter the elections.
But it appears that Veliaj has forgotten that the local and national government are legally separated in Albania. It is his job to take care of the city and not to speculate on the upcoming national elections.
Mayor Veliaj recently accompanied Prime Minister Rama at the dinner on April 2 with LSI leader Ilir Meta and Minister of Justice Vasili. He has recently also paid frequent visits to the Prime Ministry. So if the elections indeed will take place, there is no doubt that Veliaj as mayor of Tirana will play a major role in them, in spite of his office.
