Secretary General of the Democratic Party (PD) Gazment Bardhi said Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj is ‘ndragheta apprentice, following the publication of the Italian Anti-mafia wiretaps that show how businessmen with links to the Calabrese mafia have had meetings with Veliaj to gain permits for the construction of skyscrapers in the Albanian capital in exchange of bribes equal to 20 percent of the construction value.

“Edi Rama’s two closest men, Saimir Tahiri and Erion Veliaj appear in the recordings of the Italian anti-mafia authorities as involved in criminal affairs, both abusing with the high post the Renaissance chief gave them. While Tahiri went before justice, Veliaj continues to campaign for the majority and has the courage to slander every day, despite turning out to be an apprentice of the most hated Mafioso organization in Europe, ‘ndragheta”, Bardhi wrote.

“Dear friends, have no illusion that justice will summon Veliaj, despite being in worse position than Tahiri was. Veliaj is protected by his boss, because they are together in the affairs with mafia! But we can make justice on April 25. The day is coming!”