Mero Baze and Erion Veliaj, intrigue and backstabbing

Mero Baze, also known as “Old Mere,” has begun his intrigues and backstabbing against Prime Minister Edi Rama. For some time in his opinion pieces, Baze had argued that if the High Court did not release Erion Veliaj from prison, then it was Rama himself who had orchestrated the arrest.

After the High Court’s decision to keep Veliaj in custody, Baze stated that the arrested mayor of Tirana must now speak out. His thesis was written but not published.

He even removed from his editorial the statement that the members of the High Court panel were left-leaning, but claimed they had acted against Erion due to the “hygienic distance” maintained by Edi Rama and the pressure exerted by SACS.

With the High Court keeping Veliaj in prison, Mero Baze has continued his intrigue by insisting that Veliaj should speak. But the questions remain: against whom should Erion speak? About whom should he reveal information?

For more, CNA points to a growing rift between Mero Baze and Edi Rama.

Mero Baze has started showing his intrigues and backstabbing, beginning with Prime Minister Edi Rama.

It’s unclear why Baze shows such attachment to Erion Veliaj, whom he seemed to consider a chosen successor and admired greatly, but apparently Erion has only Mero on his side and no one else.

Perhaps the tension between Mero Baze and Edi Rama starts and ends with Erion Veliaj.

Recently, it was reported that Baze had suggested that if the High Court did not release Veliaj from prison, then it was Rama who had orchestrated the arrest.

What happened next?

Baze wrote another piece on the day the High Court issued its decision, but a passage was removed. He claimed that now that the High Court kept Veliaj in custody, the mayor should speak out.

His thesis was written but not published. He removed from his editorial the part where he stated that the High Court judges were left-leaning, but that they had targeted Erion due to the “hygienic distance” maintained by Rama and the pressure applied by SPAK. While this may be considered misleading, Veliaj remained in prison, and Baze continued his intrigue by insisting that Erion speak.

So the question remains: to whom should Erion speak?

Who will he speak to?

A few days ago, Erion Veliaj sent a message in the style of Mero Baze, implying: “When I speak, you will be the last news.”

Who else could this coded message be directed to, other than the Prime Minister?

Within the Socialist Party, Veliaj was never fully accepted. He came from MJAFT, a movement that had protested against the Socialists in 2005, pushing them out of power. Later, with G99, he failed to secure even 10,000 votes across Albania. He then joined the party, rose to leadership positions, and gained key roles, though many Socialists reportedly never fully trusted him.

One of the main supporters of Veliaj’s rise within the PS was Mero Baze. Now, with Veliaj in prison, Baze seems to see an opportunity to safeguard Veliaj’s political career, strengthen his position in the party, and in turn challenge Prime Minister Edi Rama through threats and intrigue.

Baze repeatedly suggested that Rama was responsible for Veliaj’s imprisonment, even though he wrote that it was technically Ols Dado who acted, based on a permit Erion had refused a claim widely disputed. Thirteen days later, this narrative remains unpublished, while Baze continues to insist that Veliaj must speak, reinforced by a coded message circulating on TikTok.

This is a clear intrigue: a backstab and a threat against Rama coming from both Mero Baze and Erion Veliaj, Veliaj under pressure from being in prison, and Baze motivated by financial interests, as Veliaj was previously one of his main sponsors. According to available information, Baze may have benefited at least €500,000 officially, with suspicions of potentially millions more.

“KORÇA BOOM”