“I neither avoid it nor refuse it, but…” – Braçe reacts on the Territorial Reform: I owe you an explanation of what happened yesterday!

Socialist MP Erion Braçe has confirmed his position against the new map of the administrative-territorial reform, arguing that changing municipal boundaries is not in itself the essence of the reform that local government needs.

In his reaction, Braçe explained that he is not against reforming local government, but opposes a reform that, according to him, focuses mainly on the territorial map.

“I neither avoid nor refuse the reform. It is a need, but as a reform for good governance, not as the drawing of a map”, he said.

According to Braçe, the reform should be based on the same principles and criteria for the whole territory and not only on decision-making based on counting votes.

He asks that decentralisation and increasing the autonomy of local government be placed at the centre of the process, through transferring more competences, functions, financial resources and revenues to the municipalities.

“It is time for the government to give life to decentralisation and autonomy in the territory, to think about and carry out the greatest transfer of power, competences, functions, taxes and fees, budgets to local government”, Braçe declared.

Erion Braçe’s reaction: “For the territorial map, the group meeting, the arguments, my position supported on principles, yesterday’s vote against and the sanctions as a threat! I owe you a clear explanation of what happened yesterday, putting an end to speculations and misuse; Listen to the video and you will have my position on the local government reform clear – I neither avoid nor refuse the reform, it is a need, but as a reform for good governance, not as the drawing of a map; Supported on equal principles and criteria, applied across the whole territory of the Republic – principles, not votes, uphold the reform and make it sustainable; Tirana and its development model should be the essence of the local government reform – taking Tirana out of the cycle of deep dependence on construction and on financing functions and services solely from it; It is time for the government to give life to decentralisation and autonomy in the territory, to think about and make the greatest transfer of power, competences, functions, taxes and fees, budgets to local government – it has never happened since these principles were placed in the Constitution; The concentration of power in just two poles is not good for anyone, starting with the citizens – it must be broken now to delegate especially service power down to the last link of contact with the citizen; Such a map for a reform; As a map it is temporary, unstable, insufficient, it is not what is asked of us and what is needed to govern well, to improve! To do the right thing I have no problem at all with the vote and its sanctions as a threat; not at all! Because it is our responsibility to do the right thing, truly, not as if, supported on principles and that improves governance at this level!”.