Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj’s appeal over the way prosecutor Ols Dado was appointed has entered the review phase at the Administrative Court of Appeal. After being rejected at first instance, the case is now being tested at another level of the judicial system, where it is expected to be determined whether the claims raised will be examined on their merits or once again remain at the procedural filter stage.
Case assigned in the Administrative Court of Appeal
The Administrative Court of Appeal has drawn the case for Veliaj’s appeal regarding the lawsuit over the way Ols Dado was appointed.
According to media reporting, the case has been assigned to Judge Blerona Hasa for review. The transfer of the file to appeal comes after Veliaj lost the battle at first instance.
What Veliaj is contesting
According to a position previously made public by Veliaj, the first-instance court did not examine the case on its merits. For this reason, he is asking the Administrative Court of Appeal to address the substance of the claims regarding the legality of Dado’s appointment.
Veliaj has also raised arguments about the criteria that, according to him, were not met at the time of Dado’s appointment in 2008. His request seeks judicial verification of the appointment act.
The debate over oversight of penal power
In his response, the mayor linked the issue to the principle of equality before the law and to the need for judicial oversight over the exercise of penal power.
This is an argument with political and institutional weight, but it remains to be seen whether the appeal court will consider it sufficient to open a deeper review of the procedure and the legality of the appointment.
The criminal context of the case
Veliaj’s move at the Administrative Court of Appeal comes as he is also simultaneously facing criminal proceedings. The mayor of Tirana was arrested in February last year by the Special Prosecution, on charges of corruption, money laundering and concealment of assets.
He is currently being tried in the Special Court under the security measure of “arrest in prison,” which gives this administrative lawsuit even greater public and institutional weight.
The focus now shifts to how the Administrative Court of Appeal will handle the appeal: whether it will limit itself to procedural aspects or open a real review of the act appointing Ols Dado.
Beyond the individual clash, the case touches on a broader debate over appointment standards in the justice system and how real judicial oversight is when doubts are raised about their legality.