Territorial reform, Berisha: Rama aims to manipulate elections by merging municipalities

The leader of the Democratic Party, Sali Berisha, has accused Prime Minister Edi Rama of using the territorial reform for electoral interests and to influence the outcome of the upcoming elections. In a statement to journalists in the Assembly, he stated that the majority has decided to interrupt the territorial reform process, despite a year-long work to draft a new model, which according to him should be in the interest of the citizens.

According to the leader of the Democratic Party, the changes proposed by the Socialists are oriented towards electoral gain. 'Edi Rama, due to his purely electoral project, is merging several municipalities in the hope that he will change the electoral composition. He is merging Rrogozhina with Kavaja, Prrenjas with Librazhd, Memaliaj with Tepelena, Këlcyra with Përmet and a series of other municipalities,' said Berisha.

Statement by the leader of the Democratic Party, Sali Berisha:

As you can see, the criminal majority is determined to completely stop the territorial reform, to bury it after a year of work on a new reform in line with the interests of the citizens.

Edi Rama due to his purely electoral project, among which he merges Rrogozhina with Kavaja in the hope that he can change the electoral composition, merges Prrenjas with Librazhd, merges Memaliaj with Tepelena, Këlcyra with Përmet and a series of other municipalities.

Vjen interrupts the debate and suddenly orders a vote without debate on all the illegal acts that have been presented today.

This is evidence of a narco-dictator who respects no constitution, no institutions, and nothing but his evil will and efforts to do everything in order to manipulate elections and maintain power.

I condemn with the greatest force, we made an extraordinary effort as you saw, we have been addressing the problem of the protest and the problem of reform since 10:00, but towards both, the criminal party has a totally blocking and hostile attitude.

Why do you think Mr. Rama came to the session today?

Sali Berisha: Because he wanted to interrupt, to order the immediate cessation of the debate.

He saw that the debate was revealing the truth to Albanians, as to their stance on the protest, where you heard his spokesman speak of terrorists in a way that was unimaginable, inconceivable to peaceful protesters.

On the other hand, the reform project we firmly stood for respecting the law, because the report presented by Mazniku is absolutely illegal, since that report was not presented and was not discussed in the reform commission. I condemn with the greatest force this act, with very serious consequences for the country.

Mr. Berisha, when you say that 20 municipalities will be merged, have you seen the socialist map?

Sali Berisha: I am telling you that I have this data from completely reliable sources. They are reliable sources simply because for the ones I quoted, they are reliable sources. They have been preserved, and I am very glad that they have been preserved, all the municipalities of minorities.

But this does not mean ignoring the interests of non-minority citizens. I completely agree with taking their sensitivities into account, but I agree and insist that new municipalities must definitely be created. Electoral alliances are absolutely reprehensible and all of this is happening.

It turns out that the municipalities that were cut are those that were left to the SMI in the 2014 reform, there is a narrative that is heard from the majority that they will be cut...

Sali Berisha: No, in the 2014 reform, another 10 to 20 municipalities were reduced. This is just so you know.

I have one more question. Why did you avoid confronting Edi Rama? All your MPs stood up, you stayed in your chair.

Sali Berisha: There was no confrontation, the MPs were not there because of Edi Rama as you saw. The MPs were there because of the reform.

The deputies were there in support of our co-chair of the reform committee, Luciano Boçi, who sought the floor to explain to the Albanians his positions as co-chair or as chairman of the committee from the opposition.