TIRANA, Oct 8 /ATA/ Democratic Party MP Luçiano Boçi said today, during a parliamentary debate on the draft law proposed by the majority to amend the country’s territorial map, that the proposed reform was a “mish-mash” that would harm smaller municipalities and distance them from decision-making.
The draft law proposes reducing the number of municipalities from 61 to 46.
Boçi began his speech by criticising the majority’s handling of the territorial reform, stressing that MPs should take individual responsibility for their votes. He argued that reason requires questions to be asked, facts to be examined and explanations to be provided before a decision is made.
“But today it is easier for you to set reason aside because you do not take responsibility with you. But do not forget one very important thing: a mandate has a name, a vote has a name, and that name is yours. Tomorrow, you will be judged by your own name. No one can hide behind, ‘It was a group decision, it was the leader’s decision.’ No, citizens did not vote for you to do this. They voted for you to bring their interests and conscience into this chamber, and today you are not doing so with a clear conscience. In fact, this is tragic, not comic,” Boçi said.
According to the DP MP, the proposed territorial changes should also be viewed in the context of the country’s depopulation..
Boçi linked the proposed territorial changes to Albania’s depopulation, arguing that, unlike the foreign invasions of the past, the country now faces what he described as a “domestic” and political form of occupation aimed at depopulating the country. He said depopulation had left entire areas without residents or basic services and was also contributing to the loss of their historical identity.
Boçi argued that depopulation threatens Albania’s local identities, historical place names and cultural heritage, describing it as a form of “modern occupation” that could have long-term consequences for the country’s future.
The Democratic Party MP also cited concrete examples of inadequate services in rural areas, arguing that the merger of administrative units should not result in services being moved further away from communities.
“In the village of Linzë, just 10 kilometres from Tirana, the school had 15 pupils. It had been open for a month, but there was not a single teacher. The school once had 150 pupils.
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