Erion Braçe Opposes Merger of Poliçan, Divjaka and Libohova: Territorial Reform Must Be Broader; It Is Time to Listen to the People

Socialist Party MP Erion Braçe has responded to the PS proposal for the new territorial reform, which envisages dissolving 15 municipalities and merging them with other, larger local government units.

Braçe opposed the proposed approach for three municipalities—Poliçan, Divjaka and Libohova—which, under the new plan, would be dissolved and incorporated into other municipalities.

The Socialist MP called for citizens, and not only local leaders, to be heard during this process.

“I think now is the time to listen to the people. Not just the leaders of these municipalities, but the people. They have not been heard, and that is a problem. We should share information with them about the reasons and what will happen to them after this reorganization; listen to their views and arguments, debate them with them, and reflect,” the MP said.

He stressed that this dialogue with citizens is an obligation of the reform process and that this is not merely about three defunct and forgotten administrative units, but municipalities with their own history and development.

Erion Braçe: Yesterday was difficult because of the proposed territorial and administrative reorganization. The reform must be much broader than this. Three municipalities with which I have a special connection—Poliçan, Divjaka and Libohova—are to be dissolved and incorporated into other municipalities. The day became even more difficult following the protest in Poliçan by residents there, with Socialists joining them, as well as the reactions that followed in Divjaka and Libohova.

I think now is the time to listen to the people. Not just the leaders of these municipalities, but the people. They have not been heard, and that is a problem. We should share information with them about the reasons and what will happen to them after this reorganization; listen to their views and arguments, debate them with them, and reflect. This is an obligation of the process. Bear in mind that we are not dealing with three defunct and forgotten administrative units.

Libohova has been a sub-prefecture since 1914 and a town for centuries. Divjaka has developed tremendously over the past 12 years—economically, in production, infrastructure and social terms. Poliçan, meanwhile, is a town built to meet the strategic needs of the military industry, which is now being discussed as a necessity. Tirana cannot be the sole center of this country’s economy in every sector.