Greece’s Foreign Ministry criticized Albania’s decision to invalidate ethnic Greek Fredi Beleri’s mandate as the mayor of Himare, labeling it as a biased and legally questionable move. Beleri, who was elected as mayor in May 2023, was arrested just days before the election on charges of vote-buying and subsequently sentenced to prison.
Albania’s Central Electoral Commission revoked Beleri’s mandate, despite his recent election to the European Parliament with Greece’s New Democracy party. The Greek Foreign Ministry condemned the decision, citing concerns about the rule of law and the lack of qualified officials in Himare.
Beleri accused Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama of orchestrating his removal and criticized the judicial process as flawed. He plans to appeal the decision within a week, with early elections for Himare mandated if the decision is upheld.
The ongoing conflict between Beleri and Albanian authorities highlights a complex political situation fraught with legal and ethical challenges.