Rama pushing it with Athens over Beleri

The Court of Appeal of Tirana on Tuesday upheld the two-year jail sentence issued by the court of first instance against Fredi Beleri, the elected ethnic Greek mayor of Himare in southern Albania, and now MEP for ruling New Democracy.

The ruling means Beleri won't be able to attend the first plenary session of the European Parliament from July 16 to 19 in Strasbourg.

Based on the way jail days count in Albania (starting in May 2023 each day has counted as roughly one and a half), he won't be released before October. 

Until then, between July and October, it is estimated that Edi Rama's government will call elections in the Municipality of Himare to ensure that a person of the ruling party's liking is elected. As there is no swearing-in procedure in the European Parliament, Beleri will receive his parliamentary compensation and will be considered elected.