The methods of Edi Rama for the seizure of the municipality of Himara are at their peak, as the Special Court of Appeal in Tirana definitively rejected the request of Fredi Beleri to obtain permission to swear in as mayor of Himara, while his illegal detention ahead of the criminal trial concocted against him, continues.

According to information obtained, Rama will take advantage of the decisions of the Court which has described as illegal the remaining in office of the previous Mayor - J. Goro, defeated in the recent elections - and has recommended the adoption of "European practices" to cover the temporary management of Municipality. And so, after the shenanigans of the last few weeks, he will depose Goro, and simultaneously his government will propose its own chosen one to take over as "temporary" Mayor of Himara.

Despite the fact that the Court and Rama himself have referred to Beleri as "elected Mayor" this has no practical or legal value, as the results of the elections have already been accepted by the competent authorities for conducting the elections, and these statements aim at confusing Athens so as the latter to accept this gesture as recognition of the election results - which was one of the two conditions Greece had set to Tirana. The most important thing that would certify the recognition of the results of the elections would be the swearing-in of Beleri.

Even though the entire indictment of the criminal case has collapsed, the Rama government is keeping Beleri in prison and the intention is to sentence him with such a sentence that even if it is reduced in the Court of Appeal, it will lead to the deprivation of civil rights and therefore to his final removal. This process will almost exhaust the time limit of the Mayor's term so the appointed mayor will hold office until the end of the current term or if the judicial process is completed earlier, then early elections will be called, where of course the advantage would be on the Socialist Party and Rama's candidate.

In the face of these tricks, Athens should once again send a clear message that it insists on the inauguration of Beleri and will not accept any maneuver with the appointment of a temporary Mayor who will not come from the political force Beleri represents, which will also constitute recognition of the result of the elections and at the same time will continue to exert pressure so that there is a fair trial for the elected Mayor of Himara. / Liberal.gr

(*The comments and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s only)