The opposition in Tirana has once again taken to the streets, holding their 41st protest outside the city’s municipality. Their demand is simple – the resignation of Mayor Erion Veliaj, whom they accuse of corruption and mismanagement.
Belind Këlliçi, a key figure in the Democratic Party, told the protesters they would not stop until their demand was met. “Albanians are paying 80,000 euros for an incinerator that doesn’t even exist,” Këlliçi said, calling out Veliaj over the controversial waste management project.
He added, “Anyone who thought we would back down has their answer. We’ll keep fighting, just like Sali Berisha stands with us today. We will win the elections on May 11, and this will be the year of the Albanian people.”
Tedi Blushi, Secretary-General of the Freedom Party, joined the protest, calling Veliaj “the city’s biggest enemy.” Blushi accused the mayor of turning the municipality into a “den of crime and theft” and said it had become little more than a “police station for corruption.”
“The only thing left to do now is for Veliaj to sign the construction of Altin Dumani’s bust near the Sharra dump, because Dumani is the one protecting him,” Blushi claimed.
The protests come as opposition figures continue to pressure Veliaj over the waste management deal, which they argue is a symbol of larger corruption issues within his administration.
