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Rama Responds to Mayors Opposing Reform: It Serves Albania, Cities Will Retain Current Services

The prime minister held an informational meeting with the mayors of the municipalities that are expected to merge under the Socialist Party’s proposal. The planned reform was explained at the meeting, and the next steps were discussed.

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Citing sources, Top Channel journalist Muhamed Veliu reports that Prime Minister Rama stressed that “this is a reform for Albania, not a reform for one municipality or another.”

Rama is also understood to have made it clear that “the reform will move forward.”

Based on the experience gained from the 2014 Administrative-Territorial Reform, merging municipalities brings shared benefits by increasing capacity, improving services and enabling more efficient administration.

The merger involving Divjakë and Dimal is also intended to serve all citizens. Within the new local government unit, the cities will continue to have a clearly defined role, while the services currently provided will be retained.

One of the main guarantees for citizens concerns precisely the preservation of the services currently provided by the existing municipalities.

The process will continue through the necessary consultations with municipalities, communities and all stakeholders involved. The objective is to create a more functional and efficient local government structure that is closer to citizens.

After Parliament sent the draft of the new territorial map to all municipalities across the country, citizens staged protests in the local government units slated for dissolution, while municipal councils also voiced their opposition.

In Poliçan, Socialist Party supporters publicly opposed the initiative and burned their SP membership cards, while the local leader of the party submitted his resignation.

The meeting was attended by the mayors of Durrës, Shkodër, Kukës, Elbasan, Korçë, Berat, Vlorë, Gjirokastër, Gjirokastër, Klos, Rrogozhinë, Dimal, Poliçan, Patos, Divjakë, Selenicë, Maliq, Këlcyrë, Cërrik, Belsh and Libohovë.