TIRANA, Nov 14 /ATA/ – Prime Minister Edi Rama said on Friday that authorities have freed over 100,000 square metres of public space since July as part of an initiative linked to the government’s “Urban Renaissance 2.0” programme.
Rama, who also heads the ruling Socialist Party, made the comments during a meeting with residents of Tirana’s Municipal Unit No. 2, after a citizen raised concerns about the lack of kindergartens and nurseries in the area.
He said the shortfall was due both to Tirana’s rapid population growth and to limited availability of public space.
“We are insisting that public space, regardless of ownership titles, cannot be occupied, fenced off or used for other activities without a utilization permit,” Rama said.
He added that legal rules require areas surrounding new residential buildings to remain community spaces, not property of developers or individual owners. These principles, he said, have often been undermined by court decisions. “You must be either ignorant or corrupt to deny communities their right to public space,” Rama said.
Rama argued that many residents wrongly assume illegal structures are left untouched because of political influence or corruption among inspectors, when in reality court rulings often prevent their removal. He criticized what he called “pseudo-permits” issued by local administrative units for temporary repair works.
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