Fourth Protest in Patos: Residents Oppose Merger with Fier

Residents of Patos have protested for the fourth time against the plan to merge the Patos Municipality with the Fier Municipality. They are demanding that the city continue to exist as a separate local government unit and oppose the changes envisaged as part of the territorial reform.

According to the protesters, Patos has the capacity to independently administer its territory and finances.

They emphasize that the municipality is financially stable, has no obligations to the state budget, and that significant investments have been made in the city over the years, taking its size into account.

One of the main reasons for their opposition is the fear that a merger with Fier will affect the distribution of investments.

Residents fear that decisions will be made by the headquarters of the new municipality and that Patos, along with the surrounding areas, will receive less attention.

“The money and investments should be used to solve the problems we have here in Patos,” said one of the participants in the protest. He called for decision-making regarding the city to remain in the hands of the community.

Pensioners also took part in the gathering, expressing their concerns about Patos’s future and the quality of services following a possible administrative merger. They believe that moving decision-making away from the city could lead to less attention being paid to residents’ needs.

The protesters link their opposition not only to administrative and financial issues, but also to Patos’s historical identity.

The city has a close connection with the oil industry and with the history of the workers in this sector, a heritage that, according to residents, must be protected.

“Here in Patos, we will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first strike by oil workers. This history does not appear to be recognized. Why do they want to destroy the oil workers’ city of Patos?” the protesters said.

Residents stress that a merger with Fier would not simply be an administrative reorganization. According to them, the change would directly affect investment planning, the provision of public services, and the setting of priorities for the territory.

They are calling for Patos’s local autonomy to be preserved and for the community’s wishes to be taken into consideration before any decision is made. The protesters have warned that they will continue their opposition in the coming days.

If their demands are not heard, residents are warning of an escalation of the protests. Among the possible forms of response, they have not ruled out blocking the roads connecting Patos with the surrounding areas.

The fourth protest shows that opposition to the administrative merger remains strong in Patos. Residents insist that the city retain its status as a separate municipality, basing this demand on the administration of the territory, investments, the city’s identity, and its history built around the oil industry.