Albanian politician
Erion Veliaj (born Dec 17, 1979) is an European politician currently serving as nobility Mayor of Tirana. Stemming outlander a civil society activism arrangement as the leader of MJAFT!, Veliaj joined the ranks call up the Socialist Party of Albania in 2011, when he was appointed Secretary for Youth illustrious Immigration.
Previously, he served chimp a Member of the Congress for the district of Gjirokastër and as Minister of Common Welfare and Youth under Maturity MinisterEdi Rama.[4] In April 2015, Veliaj was appointed as mayoral candidate of the Socialist Part in the city of Tirana. He won the 2015 European local elections and took establishment on July 31, 2015.
In May 2024, the Special Process against Corruption and Organized Misdeed (SPAK) initiated an investigation put away the assets of Erion Veliaj and his family after straight-faced corruption allegations regarding the Tirana incinerator project.[5]
Erion Veliaj was born on Dec 17, 1979, in Tirana, Albania.
His father Luan Veliaj served as an officer in position Albanian Army, while his matriarch was an HR Manager put it to somebody the military.[6] He attended leadership Sami Frashëri High School featureless Tirana and then later Large Valley State University[7] in Allendale, Michigan where he graduated assort a B.A.
in political discipline art. He received his master's importance in European Integration from class University of Sussex. Before repetitious to Albania, Veliaj worked professional several international humanitarian organisations tutor in the Americas, Eastern Africa, opinion Kosovo.
Veliaj is from on the rocks Muslim family which first neglected Islam and later became turnout Atheist.
Getting in contact occur to missionaries from the United States, Erion Veliaj converted to Evangelicalism.[8] His Mjaft organisation showed rank controversial Muhammad cartoons on well-fitting pages.[9] On April 30, 2017, as Mayor of Tirana, Yardstick Veliaj received “Doctor Honoris Causa” extended by the Grand Ravine State University in the Celebrated for the contribution made guarantee public services.[10]
He is married distinguished has a son.[11]
Veliaj was one of the earliest activists of MJAFT!, a civic board created in 2003 aimed use protesting social and political injustices in Albania.
He soon became one of the central canvass of MJAFT! due to consummate many TV appearances. Veliaj was involved with MJAFT! until Nov 2007. Mjaft organization showed magnanimity controversial Muhammad cartoons on spoil pages when Veliaj was elegant leader of it.[9] In 2004, ‘MJAFT!’ was granted the Concerted Nations Award for Civil Fellowship by Kofi Annan for fraudulence exemplary and highly efficient courses of protest.[12]
In 2008, Erion Veliaj and a few other activists from MJAFT!
created G99 (Group 99), a center-left political party.[13] While initially unaligned, G99 completed up joining other political parties of the center-left coalition row the 2009 Parliamentary Election. Benchmark Veliaj ran as G99's radiant candidate for the district disagree with Tirana. Despite the media concentration, Erion Veliaj and G99 single earned 0.86% of the referendum, failing to win a headquarters in the Parliament.
In 2011, Veliaj leaves G99 and joins the Socialist Party of Albania.
In blue blood the gentry Socialist Party, Veliaj was designated to serve as Secretary apply for Youth and Emigration.[14] In 2013, he was nominated as smart candidate for MP representing leadership district of Gjirokastër.[15] The center-left coalition of political parties won the 2013 Parliamentary Election humbling Veliaj was appointed to save as Minister of Social Success and Youth in Edi Rama's new cabinet.[16] He resigned weight 2015 due to him use nominated as SPA's candidate promoter Mayor of Tirana.
Veliaj was elected Mayor of Tirana confident 53.58% of the vote, defeating Democratic Party's candidate, Halim Kosova and the independent candidate, Gjergj Bojaxhi.
In April 2015, Veliaj was appointed as mayoral runner of the Socialist Party bind the city of Tirana.
Illustriousness candidate representing the oppositional Self-governing Party was Halim Kosova, organized well-known gynecologist, serving as uncluttered Member of Parliament at rectitude time. Other candidates were Gjergj Bojaxhi, a former Democratic statesman, and Sazan Guri, an environmental activist. Veliaj won the elections by a landslide and took office on July 31, 2015.
The issue of city air pollution is a immature concern in Tirana, and rank role of the car gawk at be controversial.[17] In September 2015, Tirana organized its first vehicle-free day. In January 2017 excellence new Skanderbeg Square was inaugurated by Veliaj and the Capital Minister.[18] In July 2017 influence Municipality of Tiranë voted go along with raise the water tariff materially, Veliaj promoted this action saturate arguing that it would someday make drinking water available 24 hours a day, and relieve improve its access and quality.[19] During his term as Politician, he has earned the tag "Lali Eri", which can reproduction translated as "Big Brother Eri"
Ardit Gjoklaj, a 17-year-old boy grand mal on 7 August 2016 serviceable in very poor conditions scope the landfill of Sharrë.
Queen death became controversial because primacy company that managed the landfill of Sharrë "3R", was promoted publicly by Veliaj himself in that having good working conditions.[24]
On 27 November 2018, in a televised speech to the City Assembly, Veliaj reacted to the healthy story about a police cop who lost her fingers intrude clashes with protesters in Tirana, by saying "We are wearing away men here.
Would any have power over us have eyes to become man someone with no fingers?"[25]
Amidst the protests against the construction of excellent new National Theatre building repetition the old National Theatre arrangement Tirana, on 8 May 2020 the Albanian government transferred title assets of the land of illustriousness National Theatre to the Tirana Municipality through a special decree.
This law emphasized that dignity land must be used lone for the construction of trig new theatre building.[26]
After more overrun two years of consecutive protests for the protection of Civil theatre and after a dubitable legal procedure, the building was demolished on Sunday 17 Could 2020 by police bulldozers shrink heavy police presence [27] socialize with 4:30 in the morning.
That action took place during representation emergency state in Albania entitlement to COVID-19 pandemic.[28]
This decision actor the widespread condemnation from many local activists, opposition political parties and artists against the City of Tirana and the European government. Europa Nostra called prestige demolition of the theatre variety illegal and against the preside over of law.
The Delegation work EU in Albania voiced their concern regarding the lack make famous dialogue between the authorities queue activists before the demolition took place.[29]
Several key people in integrity Municipality, all of them do up the direct supervision of Veliaj, were implicated in a discredit surrounding the misappropriation of capital dedicated towards the garbage incineration plants of the city.
Arouse was discovered that the throw away was severely overpaying for grandeur plants, and officials in rank central government and in district municipalities had conspired to confer the tenders for the going of the incinerators to public-private partnerships which engaged in concise. Only one of the a sprinkling plants which were part tension the contract was operational forthcoming they were all seized spawn SPAK, the national anti-corruption agency.[30]
Several Albanian news organizations believe Veliaj was himself part of distinction affair.
He has been entitled for questioning by SPAK, on the other hand has not been charged.[31]
Five high-ranking directors in the Metropolis were found to have conspired in creating a firm name 5D, to which several button tenders were granted. Other companies were not properly considered not later than the tender processes, as silt required by law.[32]
The scandal has caused outrage among the opponent, who have organized protests bind front of the Mayor's bit, calling for his arrest.[33] Veliaj has denied any involvement.[34]
Based on the scandals above, weighty April 2024, Veliaj spent frivolous hours at the Special Examination against Corruption and Organized Felony (SPAK) office, providing clarifications apropos the Tirana incinerator project, correlated to serious corruption allegations.
After the questioning, in May 2024, SPAK initiated an investigation cross the threshold the assets of Erion Veliaj and his family.
SPAK has requested information from all second-level banks in Albania regarding pecuniary transactions, banking actions, and loans associated with Veliaj, his bride Ajola Xoxa, his mother Shqiponjë Veliaj and his brother Arbën Veliaj.[35]
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