TIRANA, October 11 – The two former socialist mayors contracted by the majority as experts have recommended to the territorial reform commission not to change the current number of municipalities. The five recommendations do not include the proposal to change the number of districts as requested by the opposition which has suggested 94 municipalities and 3 or 6 regions in Albania.
“The continuation of the joint efforts of all central and local actors, domestic and our international partners for the consolidation of the current 61 municipalities. Clarification of the functions and powers of the District Councils,” said the report of the majority.
Left-wing experts think that the change or improvement of the territorial map, according to them, can only come after a study with the help of international experts within a period of 3-5 years.
But the report of Artan Shkëmbi and Adelina Farric sparked debates in the commission. According to the few democrats in the meeting hall, the experts simply whitewashed the statements of the socialist exponents.”Your report reflects nothing. In short, it was the translation of a few seconds of Balla’s statement.”
The socialist co-chairman made it clear that the experts’ report will be the basis of the final report. “We will certainly take all the recommendations you said.”
By October 21, the political debate must have been exhausted and the final report should be concluded to be submitted to the Parliament. Even this time, the tradition of bipartisan commissions will not be abandoned, coming out with two different reports in such ‘phantom’ parliamentary commissions. /Argumentum.al
