In a social media post, Lezhë Mayor Pjerin Ndreu announced that he will run again for mayor in the local elections on May 9, 2027, seeking a third term.
He said his decision to run again is driven by a desire to continue projects already underway and further advance development in the city and its administrative units.
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Ndreu presented his decision as a responsibility to finish ongoing work and address the remaining challenges.
In reviewing his two terms, Ndreu compared the state of the municipality in 2019 with its condition today.
He said the budget has grown from 12.7 million euros to a projected 33–34 million euros for 2027, debts have been paid off, and investment has increased. He also mentioned work on rural roads, tourism, water supply, and sewage systems.
The mayor said there is still work to be done and expressed confidence that the trust of residents and the commitment of his team will allow him to lead the municipality for another four years. He added that services would be provided to all residents, including those who do not support him.
He ended the post with an ironic message to his opponents: “Those who don’t like us will have to put up with us for another four years… while we work!”
Full post:
I have several reasons and a great responsibility to run again on May 9.
I will run again to lead the Municipality of Lezhë for a third term, because there are reasons to continue and many responsibilities we must fulfill.
The first term, from 2019 to 2023, was marked by extraordinary difficulties.
When we took over, we inherited a municipality with 4.6 million euros in debt and 1,200 employees, more than half of whom, according to Ndreu, did not show up for work. The budget was 12.7 million euros, 65% of which came from the government grant. There were also unusually high rent payments, while 67% of the budget went to salaries and only 17% to investment. Waste conditions, particularly along the coast, were alarming, and urban and rural infrastructure was in poor condition.
Just three months after taking office, we faced the earthquake. Then came the pandemic and the market crisis caused by the war in Ukraine.
Nevertheless, we did not back down or complain; we faced the difficulties and kept working.
After nearly eight years, he said, Lezhë’s results are reflected in the figures. The 2027 budget is expected to reach 33–34 million euros, compared with 12.7 million at the outset, and the municipality has no debt.
Today, 65% of the budget is funded by the municipality’s own revenue, while 35% comes from the government. Investment accounts for 59% of the budget, and 60% of it is carried out in rural areas. According to Ndreu, Lezhë is among the country’s four best municipalities for donor-funded projects.
He also listed more than 250 km of rural roads, including projects still underway, and said Lezhë has been ranked among the country’s best municipalities for waste management. He said progress has also been made in tourism, sports, social affairs, the arts, culture, and cultural heritage.
Water supply and sewage systems have been improved, and work has also been carried out on 900 km of irrigation and drainage canals.
Ndreu described the change as a shift from a municipality that could barely cover its expenses to one that invests, develops, and plans for the future. He said he does not claim that everything has been done or that everything is perfect, but that the difference between Lezhë in 2019 and today is clear.
He said major projects are still underway, work that has begun needs to be completed, and new challenges require commitment. He also praised his team, made up of Lezhë residents who are socialists, Democrats, and unaffiliated, saying they work together.
Ndreu acknowledged that some residents do not support him, but said more people trust him and give him the strength to continue. According to him, that trust demands more work, results, and responsibility.
He stressed that a third term is not being sought as a privilege, but as a commitment to complete the projects already underway and move Lezhë forward. The municipality, he added, will continue serving everyone, because it belongs to all residents and its work is for them.
“Those who don’t like us will have to put up with us for another four years… while we work!”
Ndreu concluded by saying that residents will decide on May 9, and that his team has results to present as well as more work to do.
