Career
He is the current Mayor of Tirana since the 2015 local election. Veliaj is the 42-nd elected leader of the local government in Tirana, holding a mayor mandate. He is also Secretary for Youth and Emigration in the Socialist Party of Albania.
During September 2013- April 2015, Veliaj served as Minister of Social Welfare and Youth in the Cabinet of Prime Minister Edi Rama.
During his term as Minister, he successfully drafted and implemented important reforms regarding pensions, employment, social welfare payments and professional education. Veliaj initiated the process of opening the files of the former State Security and reformed the compensation system for formerly politically persecuted people in Albania.