World
Incarcerated Greek Mayor-Elect Granted Temporary Leave to be Sworn in as MEP
The incarcerated Greek mayor-elect has been granted temporary leave to be sworn in as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP), marking a rare and unprecedented political event in Greece.
Incarcerated Greek mayor-elect Alfred “Fredi” Beleri has been granted temporary leave of his Albanian prison to be sworn in as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) in Strasbourg, according to the state-owned public broadcaster ERT.
European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas hailed the news, emphasizing that “respect for the right to vote and to be elected is a key element of any civilized society.”
As per Schinas, “Justification that Fr. Beleri will officially take up his duties and participate in the European Parliament votes next week in Strasbourg,”
Beleri, from Albania’s Greek minority, is currently serving a prison sentence until October for alleged vote-buying during a municipal election. He had been elected as the mayor of Himare in 2023 but was removed from office in July 2024.
Despite his incarceration, the 52-year-old was elected to the European Parliament in June as part of Greece’s center-right New Democracy party. The situation has strained relations between Albania and Greece.
The Greek foreign ministry has expressed concerns about the case, stating that it “raises several questions concerning fundamental principles of the rule of law” in Albania.
Following the upcoming inaugural session in the European Parliament, Beleri will return to his prison in Albania.