Prime Minister Edi Rama said the consolidation of municipalities will not affect service delivery, emphasising that citizens in Poliçan, Dimal and other areas will continue to receive services as before.

Prime Minister Edi Rama challenged critics of the territorial reform, asking what could possibly be damaged by merging municipalities when “roads and services do not change.” He stressed that service provision will not disappear from Poliçan, Dimal or any other area.

Prime Minister Edi Rama said residents would continue to access services close to their homes, with Poliçan and Dimal retaining their own local leaders. He added that representation would be ensured through councillors in Berat’s municipal council. “The buildings do not change, the staff does not change, the number of services does not decrease. Compared with what you have, only one thing changes: you will not have an elected mayor,” Rama declared.

Prime Minister Edi Rama recalled the 2015 territorial reform, noting that similar concerns had been raised then about service accessibility and changes to local structures. He questioned whether former communes had seen more investment before the reform or after being integrated into municipalities, contending that the present organisation has created opportunities for development across different areas.

Rama questions whether communes fared better before or after reform

Prime Minister Edi Rama, referring to the territorial reorganisation and investment levels in local units, asked: “Are communes better off today or were they better when they stood alone?” He linked the debate to the broader discussion on how territorial organisation influences development and service provision.

Prime Minister Edi Rama argued that merging municipalities will not affect service delivery, stressing that roads, buildings, staff and the number of services will remain the same. “Tell me what you think will be affected if the merger happens, when roads and services do not change. Services will not disappear from Poliçan, from Dimal or anywhere,” he said. Rama added that citizens will continue to receive services locally, with Poliçan and Dimal retaining their leaders and councillors in Berat’s municipal council. He recalled similar debates during the 2015 reform, noting that concerns about distance and loss of services had proved unfounded, and asked whether communes had received more investment before or after integration, concluding that funding came through the merger.

At the start of the meeting in Berat, Prime Minister Edi Rama described the discussion with representatives of Poliçan and Dimal as a “special confrontation,” commending what he called the “collective stubbornness of Poliçan and the persistence of several well‑prepared women from Dimal.”

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