From coffee dates, to dinners, to one-on-one meetings in his office, Tirana mayor Erion Veliaj is employing numerous “special methods” in order to seduce the artists fighting against his plan to tear down the National Theater. His purpose is obviously to convince them to withdraw on the Theater issue, or, at the very least, temper the intensity of their reactions. His strategy is also rather obvious: divide and conquer.
Until now, though, his methods seem to have proved unsuccessful, seeing that the artists have continued their protests and that those who have met with him have not only disclosed the contents of their meetings, but have remained consistent in their belief that the National Theater must not be torn down.
Even though Veliaj and his propaganda team have published pictures aimed at undermining the integrity of the artists that agreed to meet him, the public effect was not the one he was hoping for.
Actors Robert Ndrenika and Mirush Kabashi met Veliaj for dinner. However, Kabashi publicly announced the contents of their conversation. Alert Çeloaliaj did the same, while some artists, like Romir Zalla, alleged that there have been corruption attempts and offers of €100,000 and apartments.
The artists have been attacked by media outlets close to the government, not only for meeting with Veliaj, but also for meeting opposition leaders, as in the case of Kastriot Çipi’s meeting with the head of Democratic Party, Lulzim Basha.
A few days ago, media outlet Hashtag reported that Prime Minister Edi Rama has acquired all the votes needed to pass the special draft law for the National Theater in parliament. This law grants the private company Fusha shpk the right to tear down the National Theater building. According to Hashtag, the Prime Minister only encouraged the supposed negotiations and discussions with the National Theater troupe in order to legitimize the project in the eyes of the public, who will now be told: it isn’t Edi Rama who is destroying the National Theater, the theater is being torn down as a result of a joint decision!
A recently published voice recording in which the Prime Minister angrily snaps at a citizen accusing him of stealing public property seems to point out one of Edi Rama’s pet peeves: the public’s perception of him as a thief of the National Theater.
This article was first published on Hashtag.al, translation by Exit.
