Southeastern Residents Oppose the Merger of Municipalities in the New Territorial Map

In Korçë, a meeting of the commission drafting the new territorial division was held, a gathering marked by sharp debates between supporters of the two political forces.

During the discussions, participants demanded that none of the municipalities of Korçë, Maliq, Pogradec, Kolonjë, Devoll, and Pustec be dissolved.

According to them, any such change would have consequences for the areas, as citizens would find it more difficult to access services, such as in the case of a resident of Maliq who would have to go to Korçë, or vice versa.

“The Municipality of Devoll is not seeking any division under the new administrative reform. All the people of the Municipality of Devoll are united in defending it as a separate municipality,” one resident said.

Another participant also recalled the 2014 reform, saying: “In the 2014 reform, a great injustice was done when the Municipality of Leskovik was merged with Ersekë. There was no connection at all. Those people lost access to services. What concerns me is whether the Municipality of Kolonjë will continue to exist or not. If Leskovik has been left with only the post office, then the emblem of the Municipality of Kolonjë will end up the same way.”

After the meeting in Korçë, Arbër Mazniku and Luçiano Boçi also commented to the media on political developments and the protests in the country. The Socialist representative described them as normal for a democratic country, while Democrat Boçi said that one cannot speak of a new administrative division at a time when citizens are out in the streets protesting.