FLASH
Shkruar nga Dorian Kodra
You can find some strong acts of betrayal in Albanian politics, but there are few cases when a leader acts so openly in public to keep the illusion of loyalty alive, only to then sacrifice his closest ally; this is precisely the story of Edi Rama with Erion Veliaj.
Before and after the arrest, Rama lulled Erion Veliaj into a sleep, keeping him for several weeks dreaming that he had the support of the prime minister and the Socialist Party behind him, before giving him the final blow by signing the dismissal. Rama's strategy, a mix of emotional reactions, public promises and sudden political turns, can be read today as a well-thought-out plan to paralyze any reaction from Veliaj and avoid the risk of an "Arben Ahmetaj 2.0".
The last stone left for the former mayor of Tirana is an appeal to the Constitutional Court against his dismissal by the Municipal Council, a step that would for the first time position him against the political decision of the Socialist Party and against the will of Edi Rama, who has already announced his successor in the elections, Ogerta Manastirliu. But although legally within his rights, Veliaj missed the chance to stand up to his party when he was still at the peak of power, not only as a mayor surrounded by loyal people, but also as a man free from shackles. And this happened because Rama, step by step, managed to create an atmosphere where Veliaj believed he had his protection.
Last meeting before arrest
Edi Rama and Erion Veliaj in January 2025, at a joint event
The photo above shows an event in January 2025. It had been almost a year since Nesti Angoni had sent the anonymous letter to SPAK. For a year, Rama had avoided the mayor of Tirana who had started the walkies at SPAK and was still wondering where the aggressiveness of SPAK prosecutors came from. But suddenly the two appear at an event organized by Fidel Ylli, chairman of the Albanian Olympic Committee.
Veliaj seemed pleased that after the targeting by the prosecutors, he finally had Edi Rama, the all-powerful one, on his side. In fact, a few days before his arrest, he made fun of the prosecution's investigations, while advising the organizers of the meeting to be careful with the purchase receipts.
In fact, this meeting was the second, within the same day, when he appeared alongside Rama. During the morning, they had been together at an activity of the Investment Corporation, when the project for the Selman Stërmasi stadium was presented.
The “fuck you” theater on Instagram
Rama's first reaction after his arrest on February 10 was emotional and sensational. During the live broadcast of the "Sy m'sy" section on Instagram, irritated by the technical interruptions, he slammed the table and burst into a fit of "fuck you".
The image made the rounds on social media and was read as a sign of great nervousness. It was clear that Veliaj would read it as proof that his old mentor was so angry that he could not even contain himself live in front of the citizens. A little later, Rama transformed that outburst into a political message: “I am very glad that that moment remained on Instagram because it is the moment that divides who is here with soul, who is here with heart, who is here all the same as those coaches at the white line who encourage the team.”
The Prime Minister was portraying himself as the dedicated coach who serves as the team's godfather, reassuring Veliaj that his support was unconditional.
Rama's promise after the arrest: "Veliaj will not be dismissed"
The following day, on February 11, Rama made his position even clearer. He told BIRN: “Not only will the mayor of Tirana not be dismissed from office, but his detention has given rise to a duty for us to continue to be steadfast guarantors of justice, promoting as much transparency as possible to get to the truth.” He added that “we are faced with a case that creates reasonable suspicion of an investigation off the constitutional track and a detention in violation of democratic standards.”
For Veliaj, this was a guarantee that the party and its leader were on his side, a feeling in contrast to the fate of Ahmetaj, who was left alone in the face of SPAK.
Attack on judge Erion Bani
On February 12, Rama switched from defending Veliaj to a frontal attack on judge Erjon Bani. He told the parliamentary group: “This judge is a close exponent with family and friendly ties to the DP, who was specifically chosen for the Veliaj file.”
He accused him of deliberate selection and precedents in the "Toyota Yaris" file: "This judge has ordered the non-publication of the decision, but the decision has ended up with the 'swamp owl', Sali Berisha. This is a criminal offense. Altin Dumani should look for traces of the decision and tell the public". And further: "We are talking about two PD suicide bombers in the GJKKO who do not hide at all that they have taken control of the cases. They openly say 'we will dissolve them'".
Bushka and Sallaku, as voices against SPAK
In the days after the arrest, Rama mobilized other figures to create the idea of a broader solidarity. In the parliamentary group, he gave the floor to Klotilda Bushka, Ajola Xoxa's relative: "It's true, I not only know Ajola Xoxa, but I collaborated with her even before I became an MP. Erion Veliaj is my childhood friend. I am proud of the work we have done together, but I have never interfered in illegality."
She spoke of "public lynching" and "continuous oppression," turning personal protection into political protection.
Pak ditë më pas, në grup u ftua edhe rektori i Universitetit Bujqësor, Fatbardh Sallaku, pas masave të SPAK për tendera në këtë institucion. Sallaku tha: “Kam zgjedhur rrugën e ballafaqimit publik sepse nuk dua që mesazhet të keqkuptohen. Puna e nisur nga Universiteti me projektet ndërkombëtare nuk duhet të pengohet”.
Edhe ky mesazh u lexua si sinjal se PS ishte në krah të atyre që e konsideronin veten viktima të SPAK.
Heshtja për Veliajn dhe shkarkimi në Asamble
Por shumë shpejt pas arrestimit, Rama nisi të tërhiqej dhe për këtë e ndihmuan edhe rrethanat e reja në fushatën e zgjedhjeve të 11 Majit. Fillimisht i ndaloi deputetët dhe ministrat të bënin deklarata në mbrojtje të Veliajt. Në grupin e ëhatsApp të PS-së ai dërgoi një mesazh të prerë, pasi një prej deputetëve Etjen Xhafaj, foli për rastin e Erion Veliajt në media: “Nuk dua të dëgjoj më asnjë prononcim që cenon pavarësinë e SPAK-ut, lidhur me rastin a me rastet konkrete… STOP! Mbështetja jonë për SPAK-un mbetet e palëkundur”.
Qëndrimi pas zgjedhjeve ishte akoma më domethënës. Rama zgjodhi heshtjen, ndërsa Veliaj nga qelia e Durrësit ankohej për keqtrajtime të posaçme dhe për izolim total nga ana e administrata e burgjeve.
Propozimet që ai i dërgonte Ramës për të kundërsulmuar SPAK nëpërmjet të vëllait mbetën pa përgjigje. Në ditët pas zgjedhjeve, ishte krejtësisht i braktisur. Dhe ndërsa SPAK shtonte akuzat, që arritën deri në 13 pika penale, Rama priti që pas një izolimi fizik, institucional dhe politik të presë së tij, ai të bënte lëvizjen finale.
Me koordinim të qartë me SPAK që çoi në gjykatë akuzën me 13 vepra penale, Rama mblodhi asamblenë e PS, ku konfirmoi ndarjen përfundimtare me Veliajn, teksa prezantoi kandidaten për Bashkinë e Tiranës, Ogerta Manastirliun. Bashkë me flakjen e Veliajt, u kujtoi deputetëve të PS rikthimin në qëndrimin e mëparshëm, se drejtësia e re nuk preket, edhe kur vepron në shkelje të të drejtave të njeriut, sikur të kishte përballë disa kavie: “Nuk kemi asnjë të drejtë ta kthejmë llogoren e përbashkët në një rifuxho për të mbrojtur këdo, kushdo qoftë ai. Dhe po, përfshirë dhe rastet kur sipas nesh bëhet një padrejtësi”.
Mbrojtja e zjarrtë për kryebashkiakun kishte qenë thjesht dhe vetëm kalimtare.
Veliaj, shumë vonë për të sfiduar PS
Me urdhër të Edi Ramës, Këshilli Bashkiak procedoi shkarkimin dhe sot, me firmën e vetë kryeministrit, u vulos largimi i Erion Veliajt nga posti i kryebashkiakut. E parë nga sot, skenari është më i qartë dhe bashkë me të del loja aktoriale: nga shpërthimi teatral “fuck you”, tek premtimi se nuk do ta shkarkonte kryebashkiakun, tek sulmet ndaj gjyqtarëve apo përdorimi i Bushkës e Sallakut si dëshmi solidariteti.
What at first seemed like sincere defense was in fact a strategy to deceive Veliaj, who until the last moments probably truly believed that he had the party and Edi Rama behind him, thus missing the moment to rebel. Today, abandoned and destroyed, he is the clearest example of how wrong it is to trust a politician like Rama, who cannot maintain power except by making some "sacrifice", even if this means sacrificing the closest figures./ Lapsi.al
Lini një Përgjigje