It has been 3 years since the day Erion Veliaj took over the Tirana municipality, and it has now become routine for the mayor to insult anyone who dares oppose him or seek information about the municipality’s projects.
Labelling them every time as a “vocal minority,” Erion Veliaj has always risen to the occasion to insult citizens.
In February 2016, when citizens protested the illegal construction of a playground within the Artificial Lake Park, Veliaj called them “vandals”:
Today, a small group of people, acting like vandals, involved themselves in massive damaging of public property, the common property of every citizen of Tirana, by attacking and ruining various objects in order to hinder, once again, the construction of the Children’s Playground. A noisy minority is opposing the aims of the majority who want the city to make progress.
In July 2017, when citizens were protesting the increase in their water bills, Veliaj called them “dogs”:
I will not give up. Even if all of Tirana’s dogs come after me, I will not give up something that is right and will save this city.
In August 2018, when activists and artists are protesting the unconstitutional special law that dictates the demolition of the National Theater building, Veliaj calls them a “band of clowns”:
A noisy minority opposes every project in Tirana. They shout loudly to create an image, but, if you look closely, they are part of a chronic circus, a travelling circus that wanders the city: former oil executives, former failed politicians, former civil society activists who, though they are 50–60 years old, still hang out with kids. So, it is a band of clowns that is there whenever the circus comes to town. And since the circus is in town and is taking place at the Theater, this band of clowns immediately makes itself available.
