Braçe explains vote against new territorial map: reform must bring good governance, not just border changes

Socialist MP Erion Braçe has clarified his stance after the group meeting and his vote against the new administrative-territorial map, saying that his opposition is not related to rejecting local government reform.

Braçe stresses that the reform is necessary, but in his view it should not be limited to changing the map of municipalities. “I neither avoid nor reject the reform. It is a necessity, but as a reform for good governance, not as the drawing of a map,” the MP said.

According to him, such a process must be based on equal principles and criteria that apply throughout the territory of the Republic. Braçe believes that the stability of the reform is guaranteed by principles, not by counting votes.

He places decentralization and the strengthening of local autonomy at the center of the reform. To this end, he calls for transferring more competences, functions, taxes, fees and budgetary resources to municipalities.

“It is time for the government to give life to decentralization and autonomy in the territory, to think about and carry out the greatest transfer of power, competences, functions, taxes and fees, and budgets to local government,” Braçe declared.

He sees Tirana and its development model as a central element of local government reform. According to Braçe, the capital must move away from its deep dependence on construction to finance its functions and services.

The MP also warns that concentrating power in just two poles does not serve everyone, especially citizens. For this reason, he calls for power and responsibility for services to be delegated down to the last link of contact with the citizen.

“That is what a map for reform looks like,” he says, adding that the map, taken by itself, is temporary, unstable and insufficient to guarantee better governance.

Braçe has stated that he is not bothered by votes against or by sanctions used as threats, because, according to him, MPs’ responsibility is to do what is right, based on principles and with the aim of improving local governance.

“I owe you a clear explanation for what happened yesterday,” he said, declaring that he seeks to put an end to speculation and misuse of his stance.