Following Veliaj’s removal of her powers, Anuela Ristani announces her departure from Tirana Municipality: I will always remain a “Xhomllik girl

Anuela Ristani has announced that she will leave the Tirana Municipality following Mayor Erion Veliaj’s decision to revoke her delegated powers. After more than 11 years of service to the capital, she expressed her gratitude to the city and its residents, emphasizing that she is leaving with pride, humility and love.

Ristani recalls that when she began working for Tirana 11 years ago, Skanderbeg Square was still far from the way it looks today. According to her, the space that could once barely be called a square has been transformed into a destination attracting visitors from around the world.

“After more than a decade serving the most beautiful city in the world, I am leaving today with pride, humility and a great deal of love for Tirana. The city everyone envies, many love, but few understand,” she said.

She praised the citizens and colleagues who accompanied her during this period, while saying that Tirana has managed to overcome old prejudices and inherited stereotypes, presenting itself with beauty and pride on the international stage.

Ristani stressed that time remains the fairest and most impartial judge, and that the city should be viewed as something shared by everyone, while love for it should be tied to who we are, not only to the benefits it may bring.

“Time is the fairest, most impartial and most elusive judge. Out of respect for time and for what is to come, we need to see the city as a little more ours and love it for who we are, not for what it can do for us,” she wrote.

Although she was born in New Tirana and grew up across the ocean, Ristani says she will always remain “a Xhomllik girl.” She stressed that she is leaving with the support and love of the people who matter most to her and thanked everyone who accompanied her on this journey.