Ermelinda Meksi seeks clarification on Minister Gogu’s prison visit: If it can happen to a mayor, what guarantees do ordinary citizens have?

Former Socialist minister Ermelinda Meksi took to social media to comment on Justice Minister Toni Gogu’s visit to Fier prison, where he met Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj. Her reaction comes against the backdrop of a clash within the Socialist Party.

Veliaj has stated that Prime Minister Edi Rama threatened him and demanded that he resign and hand over the leadership of the capital’s municipality to Arbër Hajdari.

Meksi says that if Veliaj’s allegations are substantiated, it would constitute a scandal. She calls on Minister Gogu to publicly clarify not only the circumstances of the visit but also its legality.

Former Socialist minister Ermelinda Meksi’s post

Institutions put to the test

Erion Veliaj’s letter and Minister Gogu’s denial are not merely signs of a conflict between two former friends or a clash within the Socialist Party. The matter carries far greater weight.

If Veliaj’s allegations are proven, this would set a deeply troubling precedent: state authority and resources would have been used to exert political pressure on someone in pretrial detention.

The minister’s denial is not a sufficient response; it must be backed by facts and transparency. A statement of denial does not absolve the minister of his institutional responsibility.

In what capacity did the minister go to the prison? Where and how did the visit take place, how was it documented, and who knew about it?

These questions require answers. The responsible institutions must examine every allegation, make the facts public and establish accountability. Institutional silence or a formal denial does not amount to accountability.

This matter requires accountability at three levels:

– The justice minister must fully clarify the circumstances and legality of the visit.

– The prime minister must ensure that executive power has not been used to exert pressure or strike political deals.

– Judicial institutions must independently verify the allegations, ensuring the legality of the process and respect for individual rights.

This does not mean shielding Veliaj from accountability for the charges against him. Those charges must be investigated and adjudicated by the justice system. What is at stake is the protection of the fundamental principles of a democratic state: human rights cannot depend on political sympathies or on whether someone is powerful or an ordinary citizen.

If this can happen to a mayor, what guarantees do ordinary citizens have?

The state belongs to no one, justice must not become an instrument of those in power, and individual liberty and dignity cannot become bargaining chips in political deals.

This is a matter concerning our state, our institutions and our democracy.

E. Meksi, 2 November 2026