Erion Veliaj has reacted for the first time after his dismissal by decision of the municipal council and the government from the post of mayor of Tirana. In a long status on Facebook, Veliaj avoids directly commenting on the decision of the socialists, who have already officially started the process of replacing him. Instead, he chooses to deal with the statements of the Italian Gabriele Tarroni Longinotti, who has denied the accusations he had previously made in the media about the incinerator.
Veliaj interprets Longinotti's denial as proof that everything was a trap set against him and his family. And he also offers this "whitewash" to those who, according to him, with great "political zeal" became part of this game. Without mentioning names, but with a clear finger from within his own ranks that are giving him the final blow, Veliaj reminds them that he is "imprisoned, but not in prison."
"For others, who consciously or with political zeal became part of this fabrication. I want to tell you that I am a prisoner, but I am not in prison. I am calm and liberated in my conscience. I hope that you have the strength to free yourself from the prison of your wickedness where you have locked yourself, as the truth and confession will set you free," writes Veliaj.
However, as he wages a legal battle to retain his seat as mayor, Veliaj has yet to find the courage to speak openly about the "injustice" he claims is being inflicted on him. And this, the outgoing mayor continues to avoid as carefully as he avoids the phrase "my party fired me."
