Rama on Territorial Reform Debate: Burning Socialist Party Membership Cards Is Shameful, Consultation Lasts 60 Days

In a post on the X platform, Prime Minister Edi Rama commented on the protests and opposition that emerged following the Socialist Party’s proposal for Territorial Reform.

Rama stressed that the proposed document is undergoing a legally mandated 60-day public consultation period, during which every party is free to present its views.

Referring to dissent even within Socialist ranks, the head of government called the burning of Socialist Party membership cards a “shameful act.”

He also criticized several party MPs who, according to him, have presented themselves as “champions of the common people” without knowing exactly what they are talking about.

Rama said that what he described as the complaint of the rider worried that his feet are dangling continues. According to the prime minister, this has recently been accompanied by considerable agitation among “male and female mourners,” who claim that protests are now taking place “within the Socialist Party” as well and portray this as an extremely negative sign for the “regime.”

In his assessment, the reality is different. Apart from one case in which several people burned their Socialist Party membership cards without fully understanding what they themselves were doing, as well as cases in which Socialist MPs have assumed the role of “champions of the common people” without being clear about what they are saying, all other opposition is not only normal but also welcome.

As his first argument, Rama cited the fact that the reform proposal is currently in the legally mandated public consultation stage, which lasts 60 days.

According to him, the purpose of this period is to give everyone the opportunity to express their views on the proposal without hindrance.

Second, he emphasized that the law requires mayors and municipal councils to submit their positions in writing.

Rama considered it entirely understandable for opponents of the reform to use other peaceful forms of protest as well, provided they do not block roads or disrupt the daily lives of other citizens. Otherwise, he said, they would place themselves in conflict with both the law and the Socialist Party.

The prime minister’s third argument was that there is no regime either in Albania or within the Socialist Party. He assured that no decision exists or will be made within the Socialist Party aimed at discouraging the expression of views on this reform.

Rama clarified that Parliament will make the final decision, but until then all sides will be heard. This process also includes municipalities that may seek to incorporate smaller local government units into their territory, which the current version of the proposal envisages leaving unchanged.

The head of government added that over these 60 days, the public will receive much more information about the rationale behind the proposals.

Rama also stressed that the proposals could not take into account a municipal area’s fame dating back to antiquity, the number of people killed in wars over the past 2,000 years, or other information and legends of this kind, as such elements have not been and cannot serve as arguments in this debate.