Anuela Ristani has announced her departure from Tirana Municipality, immediately after Mayor Erion Veliaj stripped her of delegated powers. The move, first made public through Veliaj’s decision and then through Ristani’s response, raises questions about the real reasons behind this split at the top of the capital’s administration.
Departure after powers were removed
According to the version made public, Ristani reacted after Veliaj’s decision to remove her delegated rights, confirming that she is leaving Tirana Municipality after more than a decade of service.
This development comes at a time when no full public explanations have been given about the administrative or political reasons that led to the removal of her powers, making the departure more than a routine move in the municipal hierarchy.
Ristani’s public message
In her response, Ristani presents her departure as the closing of an 11-year chapter in the service of Tirana. She expresses gratitude to the city, her colleagues and the citizens, saying she is leaving with “pride, humility and lots of love.”
At its core, her message is emotional and focuses on her personal experience in the administration of the capital, without going into explanations about the decision that preceded her departure.
Tirana at the center of her narrative
Ristani describes Tirana’s transformation through memories from the start of her work 11 years ago, highlighting the changes in the city center and the way the capital has, in her view, become a meeting point for visitors from different countries.
She also praises the citizens, whom she says have broken prejudices and stereotypes by presenting themselves with dignity abroad. This is her personal reading of her time at the municipality, not an institutional explanation for the latest development.
An ending without an answer to the main question
At the end of her message, Ristani writes that she will always remain “xhomllikse,” despite having been born in Tirana e Re and raised across the ocean. She closes her response with thanks to the people closest to her and to those who supported her.
However, the public statement leaves the main issue unanswered: why Erion Veliaj decided to strip her of her powers and what actually led to the split with one of the municipal administration’s figures after 11 years.
So far, there is only a public notice of the departure and a personal message of thanks, while fuller explanations about the background of this decision at Tirana Municipality are still missing.