Greek media echo the protests against Veliaj/ "They are shaking the Albanian capital"

2024-05-29 14:00:00, Aktualitet CNA

Greek media echo the protests against Veliaj/ "They are shaking the

The Greek media " To Vima " echoed the protests in front of the Municipality of Tirana, against the mayor Erion Veliaj, after the arrest of the directors for the incinerator affair and the "5D" file.

So far, 9 protests have been held, while the Greek media declares that "the protests are shaking the Albanian capital".

"To Vima" writes that "the demand of the protesters is the resignation of the 'corrupt, chosen by Edi Rama', the mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj".

The head of the Democratic Party for Tirana, Belind Kelliçi, also gave a statement on this, who threw accusations at Veliaj.

"As I have denounced since the election campaign in 2023, the mayor of the Municipality of Tirana and the candidate of the Socialist Party, Erion Veliaj, abused public funds and the administration of the Municipality of Tirana to secure the third mandate. In addition to the misuse of state funds and his connections with organized crime groups, he bought votes and intimidated voters," said Kelliçi.

When asked if there is evidence for the accusations raised, the DP political leader for Tirana listed the international reports that talk about corruption and the actions of SPAK.

"Firstly, the report of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe for the May 2023 elections, mentioning the same concerns, demanded that measures be taken by the Albanian judicial authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice.

However, the Special Prosecutor's Office intervened 7 months after the elections, arresting the mayor's right-hand man and the head of his election campaign, on the charge of abuse of office for the corruption scandal of the Tirana incinerator. Two months ago, the Special Prosecutor's Office filed an indictment against all 6 directors of the Municipality", he continued.

Further, Kelliçi demanded that Veliaj give an account for the affairs in which the Municipality of Tirana is involved.

"Since the mayor of Tirana denies any involvement in the scandal, the opposition has called on citizens to protest. We have held 9 demonstrations so far where we called on the president to resign and we ask the Special Prosecutor's Office to call him to account as the main financial and political beneficiary of the unprecedented corruption scandal", underlined the former deputy. / CNA