Will he run for Mayor of Tirana? Endri Shabani answers for CNA

2025-09-17 16:47:00, Politikë CNA

The chairman of the "Thurje" Initiative, Endri Shabani, in a statement to CNA, spoke about the situation in the Municipality of Tirana and whether his party will run for mayor.

Shabani, who is also part of the Tirana Municipal Council, said in his reaction that he initially expects to proceed with the dismissal of the current mayor, Erion Veliaj.

A request that Shabani has made since February of this year. Further, the member of the Municipal Council said that Veliaj's impeachment and the announcement of early elections are expected, after which the role of Nisma in the elections will be discussed.

Shabani stated that the process for Veliaj's dismissal has been delayed as he should have been dismissed three months after his arrest.

" I am a member of the Municipal Council and I expect the other members of the Municipal Council to proceed with the request that I made in February of this year, to dismiss the mayor. After we dismiss the mayor, early elections will be announced. Then we will have time to discuss what our role as the Initiative will be and who the candidates will be. For the moment, we need to make sure that we have elections, because it is still unclear why it has been postponed so long. The law has forced us to dismiss the mayor, 3 months after February 10. There is a delay in this process. So everything in its own time ", said Shabani.

Asked by CNA whether he will personally run for the Municipality of Tirana or whether it will be another name from the "Thurje" Initiative, Shabani said that a party meeting will be held next week where the role they will have in the elections for the municipality of the capital will be discussed.

" It is certain that the role of political parties is to participate in the elections. Undoubtedly, we as Nisma will discuss the role that we will play in these elections. As a member of the Municipal Council, it is important for me that the municipality is not without a mayor. It is unacceptable that for 7 months the capital of Albania has been left without a mayor.

"Next week there will be a normal party meeting, we will discuss the role we will play in these elections ," Shabani declared to CNA.