Albanians to Elect New Mayor in Himara Amid Controversy and Diplomatic Tensions with Greece

Beleri, a dual Albanian-Greek national who was elected to the European Parliament with Greece’s conservative party in June, was arrested just days before the May 14, 2023, municipal elections. He was accused of attempting to buy votes with about 40,000 Albanian leks (approximately 360 euros or $390) and is now serving a two-year prison sentence. This case has heightened tensions between Tirana and Athens, with Greece threatening to block Albania’s European Union membership bid.

Sunday’s election features two candidates from the local ethnic Greek community: Vangiel Tavo of the governing Socialist Party and Petraq Gjikuria from the Together We Win coalition. Gjikuria’s coalition includes the centre-right Democratic Party of former Prime Minister Sali Berisha and the leftist Freedom Party of former President Ilir Meta.

Property rights and tourism development are key issues in the campaign. Since the fall of Albania’s communist regime in the early 1990s, redistributed state properties have led to disputes over original ownership. Himara, seen as a prime area for future development, has been further complicated by claims of ethnic bias in land distribution.

Tavo has promised to continue a property certification process started by Prime Minister Edi Rama, while Gjikuria has vowed to better defend residents’ property rights. The Socialists currently hold a majority in the Town Hall.

Beleri won last year’s election with a narrow margin but was unable to take office due to his arrest and subsequent conviction. His conviction was upheld on appeal in June, and he was stripped of his mayoral title, necessitating a new election on August 4.

Although Beleri was granted a five-day leave from prison to attend the European Parliament’s opening session in Strasbourg last month, he has returned to serve the remainder of his sentence. Despite the European Parliament’s immunity for its members, Albania’s non-member status complicates Beleri’s situation.

Beleri argues that the charges against him are part of a scheme by Rama to maintain control over Himara’s valuable property market. Albanian officials deny these claims, emphasizing the independence of the judiciary.

On Sunday, approximately 23,000 voters in Himara and surrounding areas will head to 36 polling stations to cast their votes.

Source: GCT//Bill Kouras