Territorial reform / Balla: For us, what matters is services, not who runs the municipality

The head of the Socialist Party parliamentary group, Taulant Balla, has reacted to the opposition’s objections to the administrative-territorial reform, declaring that the majority sees the process from the standpoint of improving services for citizens.

During the discussions in the Assembly, Balla said that the difference between the majority’s and the opposition’s positions is also linked to the way they see the organisation of local government.

“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 the Assembly, the elections, and then the end is known. I very much hope, in a friendly way, that you do not take this decision. Nevertheless, the choices are yours. In 2014 you took the same decision to boycott the administrative-territorial reform. Together with the LSI at that time, we gave Albania the first step of an administrative-territorial reform. The results are extremely positive because revenues per inhabitant quadrupled, while debts and liabilities fell by three quarters. In our essence and desire is that every citizen of the Republic be offered the proper services. This is the big difference between us and you. If you are concerned about who will be the mayor, for us it is how the municipality will be served. For us, union brings better services for all the communities that live there. We have maintained a standard for minority municipalities that, even though they do not meet the criteria, will continue to exist,” Balla said.

He also referred to the protest announced by the opposition for Thursday, declaring that its return to protests is a positive development. Balla also invited the opposition to consult the official documents regarding the issues being discussed.

“I thought we would talk about the reform; on Thursday you have called a national protest. 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 a daily Monday-afternoon ritual. As for today, I invite you to become part of the ‘Pasqyra e Flamingos’ platform. You have the golden opportunity that even today, you too can enter this platform and access the true official documents and not those you invent,” Balla said.

Regarding the electoral reform, the head of the socialist group asked for the opposition’s cooperation, stressing that the majority does not want the process to take place without its participation, but at the same time will not accept its blockage.

“I believe you are all aware of the historic moment the country finds itself in. Ursula von der Leyen was very clear: Albania and Montenegro remain the two frontrunner countries in the membership process. I hope you play the role the opposition should have in this process. The other reform awaiting interaction with you is the electoral reform. We have a deadline within the obligations Albania has. The commission’s deadline ends at the end of November, there will be no extension. We do not want to have an electoral reform without you, but forget that you can block the fulfilment of the obligations,” Balla said.

Finally, Balla expressed support for the Kosovo Assembly’s initiative regarding the Specialist Chambers, following the verdict on the former KLA leaders in The Hague. He asked that political debates regarding this issue not be accompanied by statements or requests he described as populist.

“The time to make 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.