Tirana Municipal Council debates territorial reform, opposition calls for special session

The Socialist Party’s proposal for administrative-territorial reorganization sparked debate at Tuesday’s meeting of the Tirana Municipal Council.

The issue was included as item 11 on the agenda and concerned changes to the capital’s boundaries. The discussion focused mainly on the inclusion of Rinas, Bërxullë and Domje in Tirana’s territory, as well as how the Council’s position would be conveyed to Parliament.

Democratic councillor Ilda Zhulali objected to the reform being treated as item 11 and called for a special session to be held on the matter.

“I don’t know whether you understand the importance of this agenda item. This is not about item 11. What is being discussed here is what will happen, at least for the next 10 years, to this country and to local government,” Zhulali said.

She said the majority was downplaying the importance of the Territorial Reform, which she described as an act of national, not merely local, importance.

Municipal Council Secretary Behar Zeneli explained that the report had been sent by Parliament and that the Council had been invited to express its position on the change affecting Tirana.

“The report arrived at the Municipal Council from the Parliament of Albania, and we have only forwarded it for an opinion,” Zeneli said.

According to him, the Council must decide whether it agrees with the inclusion of Rinas, Bërxullë and Domje in Tirana’s new administrative structure.

Zhulali responded that the issue could not be treated as a simple change on a map, telling Zeneli: “This is not a game with maps.”

Democratic councillor Dorjan Teliti also raised concerns that the Council’s position should not be regarded merely as an informal opinion. He said the draft decision provides for both the majority’s and the minority’s positions to be reflected in the final report.

“Since we, as the minority, have a different position from the majority, we want to know what procedure will be followed today so that the decision includes both your opinion and ours,” Teliti said.