
Prime Minister Edi Rama has commented on the Constitutional Court's decision regarding the case of Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj.
In a reaction on X, Rama said that the decision proves that "I did not seize all the powers."
Referring to the situation in Tirana, he stressed that if the capital will not have elections until 2027 and the Constitutional Court believes that the mayor cannot be removed except through elections, then "keeping him in prison is not simply to the detriment of individual freedoms, but also of the constitutional right of citizens to be governed by their chosen one."
Rama added that anyone who sees the Constitutional Court's position as principled and not as opposition to the government should expect that "with the same principle, when the detention issue is reviewed, the Constitutional Court will return Erion Veliaj to duty to continue the judicial process in a free state."
Some logical consequences from the Constitutional Court's decision:
1. Once again it was proven that I did not seize all the powers and this is something that is as clear as it is good or not.
2. If Tirana will not have elections until 2027 and the Constitutional Court believes that the imprisoned mayor of Tirana cannot be removed except through elections, then the disproportion of keeping him in prison is not simply to the detriment of the constitutional rights and freedoms of the person, but also to the detriment of the constitutional right of the people of the capital to be served by their elected representative or not.
3. Any normal person who does not see in the Constitutional Court's position a blind stance against the government to the great detriment of Tirana, but rather a firm, principled stance, cannot help but expect that with the same principle, when judging his detention, the Constitutional Court will return Erion Veliaj to duty, to continue the judicial process in a free state or not. Points 1 and 2 are certain, point 3 remains to be seen, in the meantime let us hope that everyone in their power will help resolve this absurd impasse, remembering that the capital cannot be treated as an orphan, for years.