FLASH
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How Edi Rama prepared the blow against Erion Veliaj: The big game for Tirana, the abandonment of Blenfi Gonxha and the new 'ace' up his sleeve...
After Veliaj's big victory in Tirana and the rise of an autonomous lobby, Edi Rama launched a plan to eliminate him politically, building new alliances and selecting a controllable successor, outside the SP, to keep the power of the capital under absolute control until 2030.
In the upper echelons of the majority and in important diplomatic salons, there has long been talk of a move thought out and planned by Edi Rama: the political blow to Erion Veliaj and the retaking of full control of Tirana. This project was carefully constructed after the 2019 earthquake, when Rama first openly expressed his dissatisfaction with the mayor.
In a live video from that time, he publicly mocked Veliaj, advising him to wake up at four in the morning and paint the palace stairs. It was the first sign of a distance that later turned into silent clashes and political calculations.
After the pandemic and his victory in the 2021 elections, Veliaj emerged stronger than ever. He built an electoral machine that not only guaranteed victory in all municipalities of the Tirana district, but was perceived as a strong local leader, with influence beyond the SP. His alliances with interest groups, religious communities, organizations, doctors and teachers gave him a broad and independent social profile. In fact, his frequent statement "I don't sit around with the lacat" was perceived as a direct jab at Edi Rama and his alliances with strong dark segments.
This situation further increased the tension between the two camps. Veliaj began to talk about the historic victory in Tirana, taking credit for the result. Rama, on the other hand, called Tirana an "unrealized objective", and even started moves to weaken the SP's political structure in the capital.
The investigations into the incinerators and the Health PPPs, which began right after this moment, gave Rama a golden opportunity to punish Veliaj. The media of the oligarchs close to the prime minister began to publicly attack the mayor. In a sensational statement at a press conference, Rama said: “We will hang Lali from one of the trees he planted himself.”
This was not a joke. It was a clear warning of the beginning of the plan for the political elimination of Veliaj and the dissolution of his lobby. Rama decided to bring back Blendi Gonxhe as part of Plan B, an old figure closely linked to the prime minister, who has always served as a mediator between the groups and as a "double" in the leader's game.
In the internal elections of the Socialist Party for Tirana, Gonxhe was presented as the number 1 candidate with guidance from Rama himself, to prevent the advancement of an old figure like Fatmir Xhafaj, who could get out of control.
But for the Tirana municipality, Rama has chosen another candidate, outside the SP, but close to his inner circle of power. The media close to the majority have started promoting him, and even those that once defended Veliaj have changed their tune.
This move clearly shows a long-term strategy to block any political alternative that falls outside of Edi Rama's personal control. The SP for him is simply a tool for maintaining power, as he himself has admitted. His alliances are with groups outside it; economic, media, international and informal.
Veliaj's overthrow is not simply political revenge or punishment for protagonism. It is part of a larger scheme to cement control over Tirana and keep any ambitions outside Rama's "house" blocked until at least 2030. The sacrifice has been made, the new player has entered the field and the game has just begun. / Pamphlet
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