While the socialists in the Tirana municipal council have gathered today to start the procedure for the dismissal of Erion Velia, the DP councilors are nowhere to be seen. Those who for months have come out every Thursday to demand the removal of Erion Velia from the leadership of the municipality, today have neither an opinion nor a stance on the political fate of the mayor.
If Edi Rama is initiating a political process that will bring elections in Tirana, but which in itself carries legal problems for the dismissal procedure, the opposition led by the DP seems more apathetic than ever. Will the opposition councilors vote to dismiss Veliaj? If so, will they join the votes with those of the SP? And if they have a different position, how will they argue it legally and politically?
But it seems that the August heat has still left its mark on the apathy of the opposition, which, even though it is close to new elections for Tirana - an opportunity to confront Edi Rama's now absolute majority - does not have a position. It even seems that there is no longer a candidate, as the two most talked about and most likely candidates, Jorida Tabaku and Ilir Alimehmeti, have clearly stated that they will not accept to be DP candidates.
The situation in the opposition camp looks even bleaker, as Arlind Qori and his party have announced that they will not have any joint candidate with the opposition. While Adriatik Lapaj also said today that he will not support the DP candidate.
Under these conditions, the largest opposition party is clearly without a compass for orientation in a strong political confrontation in Tirana. The only one that can bring it out of the lethargy of the May 11 elections. And at the very least, it has an obligation to its supporters to make it clear who it will run with or, if not, to declare that it will not participate in the local elections for Tirana.
