Democratic Party MP Enno Bozdo has opposed the process for Territorial Reform in the Committee on Legal Affairs and Public Administration, calling for the procedure to be halted and for citizens and local representatives protesting against the changes to be heard.
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In a clash with ruling-majority MP Ulsi Manja, Bozdo accused the majority of ignoring the position of the municipalities affected by the reform.
The DP lawmaker said the majority still had time to halt the procedure and listen to the proposals put forward by local representatives.
Bozdo also challenged the argument that the process must meet deadlines related to the European Union.
According to him, the EU does not set a standard for the number of local-government units or the size of municipalities.
“It is not normal for all the work of this committee to be conducted amid protests. You have all the municipalities that are being merged protesting outside. They are protesting because they have not been heard and their arguments have not been taken into account. Fifteen municipalities are disappearing based on unfounded arguments. You still have time to block the procedure. You must do what the Territorial Affairs Commission was unable to do because of political orders: listen and come up with the best options. The opposition’s aim was not to block the process, but to propose the best option for citizens. They are out on the streets protesting.
Which deadlines are we supposed to meet? This is not required by the EU; there is no standard for local government or for the number of people in municipalities,” he said.
