From Boldnews.al
A local celebration in the village of Vajzë in Vlorë, which brought together Prime Minister Edi Rama and the President of the Supreme Court, Sokol Sadushi, may have its “effects” in September, when the highest judicial institution will review at least two cases with a very important impact for the government or, more precisely, for the socialist government officials.
Sadushi, shortly before the end of his term as chief judge, a term which ends in October of this year, has in his hands the fate of the arrested mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj, as well as the efforts to mitigate, if not completely eliminate, the effects of the criminal offense of “Abuse of Office”.
These are two issues that do not seem to be connected to each other at all. But, on a broader level, both, if resolved according to Rama’s will, would allow him to continue in power without the slightest concern.
The Last September of Sadus
On August 18, 2026, the President of the Supreme Court, Sokol Sadushi, announced, in excess of the legal deadline, the procedure for appointing the judge who will replace him in office.
The law provides that the President of the Supreme Court remains in office for 3 years, without the right to re-election, while the procedure for the successor begins at least 60 days before the end of the term of office of the head.
Sokol Sadushi was elected president on October 17, 2023, and his term ends on the same day of this year. But before that date is reached, the head of the Supreme Court must “manage” two hot potatoes.
The fate of Erion Veliaj
The Girl’s Folk Festival, organized by the “son of the village”, Sokol Sadushi, and presented by his wife, the Appeals Judge, Edlira Petri, dressed in the traditional costume of the area, aroused negative reactions from the public.
Opposition representatives saw Rama’s appearance alongside Sadushi as further evidence of the symbiosis between the government and the judiciary. Analysts and public commentators also raised questions about this unnecessary appearance of the two men who lead all three branches of government in Albania.
Sokol Sadushi was elected president on October 17, 2023, and his term ends on the same day of this year. But before that date is reached, the head of the Supreme Court must “manage” two hot potatoes.
On September 15, 2026, the Criminal College of the Supreme Court has scheduled a session to review Veliaj’s request for the mitigation of the security measure and release from the Durrës detention cell.
Earlier, the same three-member panel of the Supreme Court rejected his request twice. An attempt by Sadushi to change the rules of the game, which could have led to the relaxation of Veliaj’s security measure, also failed.
Now, with the case back for review by the Constitutional Court, Veliaj remains hopeful that a new body drawn at his request may take a softer approach.
Of course, Veliaj, like many others, are clear that the strings in the Supreme Court are pulled by the first president after the Justice Reform, Sokol Sadushi. And the latter, in turn, has the strings pulled by Prime Minister Edi Rama.
If the will of the chief Rilindas is in favor of Veliaj’s release, then Sadushi’s “duty” is to align the stars of Veliaj’s fate in his favor.
Veliaj also hopes to see this variant realized, after the “Girl’s Party”.
Mitigating “abuse of office”
On September 12, 2026, the General Meeting of the members of the Supreme Court was convened to unify the judicial practice regarding the criminal offense of “Abuse of office”.
This offense, which was introduced many years ago in the Penal Code, has become a real concern for government officials. Many of them, even at the highest levels, have been arrested or charged for this offense.
The government detachment, represented by the lawyers that Rama has in Parliament, have previously attempted to make some modifications to this criminal offense, with the aim of mitigating its effects.
However, attempts to change this article by vote in Parliament have failed, as Rama’s desire has been met with a barricade by European Commission officials, who seem to have seen the prime minister’s will to escape as much as possible from his abusive officials.
What the Prime Minister did not achieve with Parliament, he seems to be going to accomplish through the “Sadushi campaign”.
On July 21, 2026, a panel of three judges of the Supreme Court considered the appeal submitted by the Special Prosecution Office (SPAK) against the decision to acquit the socialist mayor of Devoll, Eduard Duro.
The local leader and several of his subordinates were indicted by SPAK in October 2024 for “abuse of office,” along with several of his subordinates. At the end of the trial, special prosecutors requested Duro’s sentence of 1 year in prison, converted into probation, and a 5-year ban on being part of the public administration.
The special courts of first instance and the Court of Appeal declared him innocent and SPAK appealed to the Supreme Court.
The case does not seem very complicated in procedural terms. Therefore, the decision to pass it for consideration by the Meeting of Judges, with the aim of “establishing practice” on how to deal with “abuse of office” raises doubts that the Supreme Court’s initiative may serve to mitigate, if not completely eliminate, the effects of this criminal offense.
An initiative that could serve to calm the troubled souls of officials, of all levels, who cannot escape the urge to commit this crime, as defined in the Criminal Code.