The Tirana Municipal Council has begun its meeting, as planned, to discuss the dismissal of Erion Veliaj.
From the outset, the Mayor of the Municipality, Megi Fino, said that the decision to dismiss Veliaj was imposed by the necessity of the situation created after the mayor's arrest.
"I want to strongly emphasize that this step is being imposed by the urgent need to move forward. Today we are fulfilling the political and moral obligation to resolve the political impasse in Tirana. Today we have only one item on the agenda, the draft decision to dismiss the mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj ," said Fino.
DP advisor Ilda Zhulali said that the SP did not allow Veliaj to participate in the meeting, while making accusations against the mayor, who according to her should have been dismissed in 2023.
Four members of the municipal council are absent from the meeting: Anuela Ristani, the acting mayor, and left-wing councilors Aldo Merkoci, Gazmend Paja, and Joleza Koka. The latter three are also considered friends of Erion Veliaj.
On Friday, Veliaj sent a letter to the City Council requesting to attend the meeting. The Council Secretary, Behar Zeneli, responded that if the mayor cannot physically appear at the meeting, he can send the claims in writing.