The recent statements of Prime Minister Edi Rama, in which he demands that Erion Veliaj be released from prison with the argument that “Tirana cannot remain without a mayor”, seem a bit hypocritical. This statement comes after the Constitutional Court rejected his initiative to dismiss Veliaj from the post of mayor and at a time when Veliaj is still under investigation by SPAK. Also, Rama himself was among the first to distance himself politically, leaving him alone to face justice after the corruption charges. This sudden change of position places the Prime Minister in a contradictory position and raises questions about the real reasons for this reaction.
From a political perspective, Rama's statement could be interpreted as an attempt to maintain his image as a leader who does not abandon his associates in difficult moments. After a period during which he left Veliaj to face justice alone, Rama now seems to be seeking to send the opposite message, that he is ready to intervene in defense of his people. However, this move creates the perception that it has more to do with managing public perception than with a sincere statement.
This situation is further complicated by the fact that Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, now a defendant by SPAK, has also been placed at the center of the SPAK investigation. This has placed Edi Rama in a very complicated position, on the one hand, his closest associates are being taken to justice one by one; on the other hand, he must maintain the same standard in relation to each of them. If for Veliaj he appeared cautious, leaving her in the hands of justice, for Balluku it seems that the situation is more delicate, not only because she is his closest associate, but perhaps also out of fear that her file may contain elements that could go very high.
Therefore, Rama is faced with a clear dilemma: to maintain the image of a leader who respects the independence of justice, or to protect his political associates to avoid the idea that he is leaving them to their fate as justice acts and to avoid the fear of a division within the Socialist Party. With Balluk, he has not been seen as comfortable as with Veliaj, and this shows that not everyone is equal in terms of the prime minister's support. Given that Balluk's file may reveal other data that affects the government more broadly, Rama is managing this situation with increased caution.
In this context, Rama’s new rhetoric, which tries to show that he “no longer lets his collaborators down”, can be seen as an attempt to rebuild trust within the party structures and to preserve the balance of power in the face of new developments that SPAK’s action may bring. By turning Veliaj from “left in the hands of justice” to “a man who must be protected for the good of the city”, Rama seems to aim to send a message to others within the party: whoever is close to me will not be left alone. But in essence, this stance indicates more about the difficulties the government is facing in relation to justice, than about any sincere act of solidarity.
