Territorial reform, Tabaku urges SP MPs: Do not vote for it, citizens have not been heard

Democratic Party MP Jorida Tabaku opposed the territorial reform in Parliament, accusing the majority of approving it without listening to the citizens and communities affected by the changes.

During the debate on procedure at the start of the plenary session, Tabaku urged Socialist MPs not to vote for the reform, which she said is not a territorial reform but a “political, electoral and economic” reform.

“The citizens of Tirana, a third of the country, have not been heard,” Tabaku declared, stressing that, according to her, the municipal councils have not been heard either, including those with a Socialist majority that have voted against the reform.

According to the DP MP, the reform aims at concentrating economic and electoral power, while she accused the majority that the changes are not linked to improving services for citizens.

In conclusion, the Democratic MP compared the vote on the territorial reform with previous decisions of Parliament, including the law on strategic investments, the law on protected areas and the decision to demolish the National Theatre.

“To these will also be added the list of those who will today dissolve, with a stroke of a pen, 50 municipalities, without listening to the voice of the citizens,” Tabaku declared.

She urged Socialist MPs not to vote for this reform.