One of the Democratic Party candidates for the Municipality of Tirana, Belind Këlliçi, ignored reports in the media close to incumbent Mayor Erion Veliaj that labeled him as a “their son-in-law”. Këlliçi – one of the four candidates that will run in the Democratic Party primaries that will elect the official candidate for the Albanian capital – has married the daughter of two known exponents of the Socialist Party, which he sees as irrelevant to his political career.

“This history is being spoken of for seven years but whoever knows me knows my independence on decision making as well, they know how little I am affected by such issues”, said Këlliçi, speaking on Çim Peka Live on Syri TV.  “Still, it makes me proud that Erion veliaj’s tarnishing and propaganda machine is merciless and articulates the fact why I have chosen to love freely what my heart wants. I make no one’s biography. This is exactly what the Democratic Party did in the 1990s, a fight against the class struggle, to make people independent and free. My politic judgment is not affected by my personal relations. If Veliaj targets me for this reason, if he finds a relations between my public approach and my private relations, then I’m ready to step aside”.

Këlliçi told host Çim Peka he is loyal to his political beliefs. “My right roots are deep in my blood. Being attacked for this is a medal of honor”.

“One of the reasons that made me run is eradicating Veliaj’s model with attacks like this from an individual that pretends he sold figs and saved 500 million Lek from his mom’s pension for his wedding”, said Këlliçi, referring to Erion Veliaj’s luxury wedding in 2014 in the Castle of Gjirokastër for which he said he paid with his mom’s savings of 40 years.