Balla: Do not repeat the history of the boycott, the territorial reform is for better services

The head of the Socialist Party Parliamentary Group, Taulant Balla, responded to the opposition during the debate on the new administrative-territorial reform, placing the emphasis on how services will be offered to citizens and not on the race to run the municipalities.

Balla said this is one of the main differences between the socialists and the opposition, while he warned the Democratic Party not to return to a boycott of Parliament.

“The last time I heard the expression that we no longer stay in this hall with you was sometime at the beginning of 2019. The history that followed is known: the DP left Parliament, the elections, and then the end is known. I very much hope, in a friendly way, that you do not take that decision. Nevertheless, the choices are yours,” Balla declared.

Referring to the 2014 reform, the head of the socialist group said that even then the opposition had chosen the boycott, while according to him the changes brought an increase in revenues per inhabitant and a decrease in municipalities’ obligations.

“The results are extremely positive because revenues for every inhabitant quadrupled, while debts and obligations fell by three quarters,” he said.

Balla argued that the majority’s objective with the new map is not determining the names of the mayors, but improving services.

“If your concern is who will be the mayor, for us it is how the municipality will be served. For us, merging brings better services for all the communities where they live,” Balla said.

He also mocked the protest announced by the opposition for Thursday against the territorial reform.

“Well, thank goodness the DP returned to protests, it is good news. It is positive news because the protest achieved a great success: it freed the boulevard from an everyday Monday-afternoon ritual,” Balla said.

Next, he invited the opposition to use the “Pasqyra e Flamingos” platform to see the official documents regarding the Sazan-Zvërnec issue and other issues.

“You have the golden opportunity that even today, you too can enter this platform and access the real official documents and not those you invent,” the head of the socialist group declared.

Balla also stopped at the electoral reform, seeking the opposition’s cooperation and recalling that the deadline of the relevant committee ends at the end of November.

“We do not want to have an electoral reform without you, but forget that you can block the fulfilment of the obligations,” he said.

Referring to the European integration process, Balla said that Albania is at an important moment and asked the opposition to play its role in this process.

At the end of his speech, he also commented on the developments regarding the Kosovo Specialist Chambers and the former KLA leaders in The Hague. Balla asked that the Kosovo issue not be turned into an internal political clash.

“The time for making populist statements or requests for populist interpellations, I invite you to withdraw them. Today more than ever, Kosovo needs support from Albania and a common voice,” Balla said.