Acting Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice, Donika Gërvalla, has reacted strongly to the serious crime that took the life of a 25-year-old woman in the village of Kërvasari in Malisheva.

She called on security and justice institutions to conduct a swift, comprehensive, and uncompromising investigation, so that the circumstances of the incident are fully clarified and the perpetrator is brought to justice.

“Violence against women is not a private matter. It is not a family conflict. It is not ‘household business.’ Violence against women is a crime and there will be zero tolerance towards it,” Gërvalla emphasized in a firm statement.

The minister described this tragic event as a strong alarm signal for the entire society and state apparatus. She stressed that the response cannot come only after the loss of a life, but that violence must be stopped before it reaches irreversible proportions.

In her role as National Coordinator for Protection from Domestic Violence, Violence against Women, and Gender-Based Violence, Gërvalla insisted that this case be handled with the utmost seriousness and that every detail be examined.

“A woman has been killed. In the face of violence against women, there can be no silence, justifications, or indifference. There is only one answer: justice and only justice, and zero tolerance for domestic violence, violence against women, and gender-based violence,” she concluded.

At the end of her reaction, Gërvalla expressed sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of the victim.

The post Donika Gërvalla Reacts After Murder of 25-Year-Old Woman in Malisheva: Demands Uncompromising Investigation and Zero Tolerance for Violence appeared first on Albeu.com.

In an official statement issued today, the Socialist Party clarified the controversy sparked by recent reports that 15 municipalities would be merged, reducing the total number nationwide to 46.

The Socialist Party headquarters and the Territorial Reform group said the process would not affect urban centers, municipalities or their names.

However, it acknowledged that they would no longer have mayors. Instead, they would have deputy mayors and representation on municipal councils, while becoming part of larger neighboring municipalities.

“The municipalities included in this process will retain their name, identity and urban center. They will become part of a new administrative structure through mergers with neighboring municipalities, while continuing to hold the status of constituent cities within the new local government unit. Every center affected by this process will continue to have institutional representation through its respective deputy mayor and representation on the municipal council, as well as a defined role in local planning, the organization of services and the administration of community affairs,” the Socialist Party’s statement emphasized.

Finally, it stressed that the process aims to create a more efficient organization of local government while preserving citizens’ identity, history and direct connection with the area in which they live.

Socialist Party statement:

“Hello. A clarification and additional information regarding the reports circulating in the media about the Administrative-Territorial Reform process.

Territorial consolidation will not lead to the ‘disappearance’ of any municipality or city.

The municipalities included in this process will retain their name, identity and urban center. They will become part of a new administrative structure through mergers with neighboring municipalities, while continuing to hold the status of constituent cities within the new local government unit.

Every center affected by this process will continue to have institutional representation through its respective deputy mayor and representation on the municipal council, as well as a defined role in local planning, the organization of services and the administration of community affairs.

This process aims to create a more efficient organization of local government while preserving citizens’ identity, history and direct connection with the area in which they live.”

What the Territorial Reform Envisages

Members of the Socialist Party parliamentary group who sit on the Special Parliamentary Committee on Administrative-Territorial Reform have submitted the Administrative-Territorial Reform proposal to Parliament.

Under the draft law, Albania will have 46 municipalities, 71 cities and 387 administrative units. The number of counties will remain 12. The country is currently organized into 61 municipalities and 12 counties.

The municipalities to be merged are Fushë-Arrëz, Klos, Rrogozhinë, Dimal, Poliçan, Patos, Divjakë, Selenicë, Maliq, Këlcyrë, Memaliaj, Libohovë, Cërrik, Belsh and Përrenjas.

The draft law stipulates that the municipality will remain the basic unit of local government and will consist of cities, which will have a special legal status regulated by the law on the organization and functioning of local government.

The Division

Cities will consist of administrative units and/or villages, while the organization and representation of municipalities will be based on the principle of proportional representation of their constituent cities according to their population.

Article 2 of the draft law stipulates that the name, territorial extent, boundaries, center and administrative units of each municipality will be defined in the maps and tables attached to the law, which form an integral part of it.

The draft law also provides that municipal councils will have the right to change the names, territorial extent and boundaries of their constituent administrative units and subdivisions according to community needs and administrative efficiency.

The post “No Municipality or City Will Disappear” / Territorial Reform, Socialist Party: Municipalities Included in the Process Will Retain Their Name, Identity and Urban Center appeared first on Albeu.com.