Why don't the accused and convicted mayors resign?

2025-09-25 16:20:00, Politikë CNA

Why don't the accused and convicted mayors resign?

Illustrative photo

A number of mayors from the ranks of the Socialists have been accused and convicted of serious criminal charges and offenses, such as corruption or abuse of office, etc.

But none of them have resigned, after they were investigated and captured alive by justice.

We are bringing you some of the most recent cases.

Erion Veliaj

We have the mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj, with 13 charges for 5 serious criminal offenses, who has been in Durrës prison since February 10.

After being arrested, Erion Veliaj did not have the dignity and morality to resign, until he was dismissed from the Municipal Council, a proposal that was approved today by the Council of Ministers.

Even though totally immersed in corruption, abuse of office, laundering the proceeds of crime, bringing illegal items into the cell, and hiding assets, Erion Veliaj did not resign, even when the prime minister asked him to, news that was previously reported by CNA.

Let's go further. The same precedent exists in the cases of other accused or convicted mayors.

Fatos Tushe

Fatos Tushe (former mayor of Lushnja), convicted of abuse of office and tender abuse, also did not resign, but was dismissed by Prime Minister Edi Rama.

Lefter Alla (former mayor of Bulqiza)

Lefter Alla

He is accused of abuse of office and violation of equality in tenders, for a Water Supply tender, and was sentenced to three years in prison.

Lefter Alla, too, did not resign, but was dismissed.

Edison Memolla

Edison Memolla, the mayor of Rrogozhina, was convicted of active corruption in the elections, but did not resign from office.

Erion Isai

Finally, Erion Isai, the mayor of Kolonja, who has been taken into custody by SPAK and accused of “violation of equality in tenders” and “abuse of office.” The latter has not resigned either.

So, all these mayors we listed, starting with Veliaj and ending with Erion Isai, even though they are caught in violations, do not resign from office.

But this doesn't happen in the West. There are dozens of cases where mayors resign when caught in violation, while this doesn't happen in Albania.

Albania is a country that aspires to the EU, that is working on opening negotiations, but can Albania join the EU with such a precedent?

These people must understand, from Veliaj to the last, that the institution of resignation must begin, which once existed in Albania and began during the Berisha government.

It was Ilir Rusmajli who resigned over a wiretap that revealed his brother, which he had no knowledge of. It was only because his brother had gone to a dependency institution that Ilir Rusmajli resigned.

Veliaj & CO are under indictment, defendant and convicted and no one resigns. They should have a culture of resigning at the very least when an accusation is brought against them.

We are not saying that resignations are made at the moment they are investigated, but at the moment an accusation is filed or registered by a criminal institution.

When Rusmali resigned as a lesson for Xhafa
May 17, 18:43

What are these people tied to chairs?

What is this about all these officials who are accused and then continue to remain in office when many simply accused, convicted people can resign and the municipality is led for a period by a vice mayor until elections are held and then after the legal processes are closed, he continues to lead the institution.

How will we get to the EU with the minds of these mayors who, despite being accused and convicted, still want to keep their chair tied to their waist?/ CNA