Selenica Residents Unite Against Plan to Dissolve Municipality

Opposition to the new territorial reform was once again voiced in Selenica this Saturday. Residents, intellectuals, local officials and village representatives gathered in the town center for the Selenica Assembly, where they discussed the municipality’s future.

The meeting focused on arguments for and against the territorial plan, which envisages dissolving the Municipality of Selenica and merging it with the Municipality of Vlora. Participants also considered the steps they would take to oppose the initiative and preserve Selenica as a separate municipality.

Ilia Bombaj, one of the assembly’s organizers, explained the reasons behind the meeting. Arguing that Selenica should not lose its status, he highlighted the area’s history, territorial size, number of villages and the need for services to be provided as close to residents as possible. Bombaj also referred to statements by MP Ardit Bido, who has supported merging Selenica with Vlora.

Former Selenica mayor Përparim Shametaj also opposed the territorial change. He said that stripping Selenica of its municipal status would not bring development but would instead harm the area and residents’ interests. Shametaj called for citizens’ voices to be taken into account before a final decision is approved.

Residents and intellectuals who spoke at the meeting also called for the proposal to incorporate Selenica into the Municipality of Vlora to be withdrawn. According to them, this would force residents to travel to Vlora even for the simplest administrative procedures, creating considerable difficulties, particularly for the rural population.

At the conclusion of the Selenica Assembly, those present announced that they would continue opposing the reform through institutional channels and civic engagement. They reiterated that their goal is to preserve the Municipality of Selenica as an independent local government unit.