Who is Erion Veliaj, PM Rama's rumoured successor?
27 April 2024
As the 2025 elections are nearing and PM Edi Rama is expected to win the public vote again, some are starting to ponder: what is the future of the ruling and dominant Socialist Party without Rama? Rumours say, Erion Veliaj might be the answer. Having had a very similar career in politics, and enjoying high levels of popularity among voters, it is his name most often being mentioned in the media as a potential successor.
Erion Veliaj has been the Mayor of Tirana since 2015, now serving his third and, legally, final term. Before this, Veliaj had worked as the minister for youth and social welfare. As mayor, he has focused on implementing Rama's Tirana 2030 urbanism plan. His sometimes authoritarian methods of rule, as well as his strategies for attracting investments, have been broadly criticised, but he has stood firm.
 | Ariadna Mañé However, Veliaj's current role and possible promotion as the next SP leader are in jeopardy, as three different corruption scandals involving some of his council's officials, arrested by the anti-corruption body, are splashing onto him and, indirectly, the Socialist Party. |
Welcome to The European Correspondent
Europe lacks true European media: in Germany alone, there are more media devoted exclusively to football than news outlets specialising on Europe. The established players mainly focus on Brussels and European institutions. The European Correspondent aims to change that. We cover the whole of Europe and write for a community of citizens who want to look beyond their own national borders. Without European journalism, there is no European civil society.
〉Read our manifesto
〉The stories we would like to write for you
Become a donor!
The European Correspondent is fully funded by its readers. We can only produce the newsletter with your support - and work towards the bigger project: building true European media. Donate now!
With your help, we can create true European journalism. Thank you!
We are non-profit. Every donated € goes directly into The European Correspondent.