The socialist mayor of Poliçan, Adriatik Zotkaj, has come out against the proposal to merge 15 municipalities, while also raising concerns about what he describes as the continued weakening of local government. In a statement made in May, during a discussion in the Territorial Reform Commission, Zotkaj said that the powers of mayors have been significantly limited and that today local leaders no longer feel like they are truly at the head of the institutions they lead.
"We have been stripped of all our powers as mayors," declared Zotkaj, adding that the issue is not related to his personal interests, but to the way local government functions. He also cited as an example the limitation of mandates for mayors, considering this a constitutional problem. According to him, mayors face citizens every day, but have fewer and fewer means and powers to respond to their demands.
“I don’t think any of my colleagues feel like mayors,” he said. Zotkaj said this was the first time he had sided with opposition representatives on such an issue. He stressed that he did not see the debate as a political clash, but as an issue that directly affects local communities.
"I have ended my political career and I am not interested in fighting with power, but I cannot remain silent in front of those people who have voted for me for 25 consecutive years," said the socialist mayor.
Opposition to the merger of municipalities
Speaking about the new territorial proposal, Zotkaj urged decision-makers to consider the concrete consequences that the merger of municipalities would have on communities. He specifically referred to the Municipality of Poliçan, claiming that a large number of employees and businesses would be affected after a merger. According to him, about 1,068 employees and 400 businesses would be in a new situation after the change of administrative boundaries.
At the same time, Zotkaj praised the increase in salaries in the local administration, saying that this has helped bring professionals and intellectuals back to local government. The statements by the mayor of Poliçan bring back to the center of the debate the question of whether a new territorial reform will bring more efficiency or will further remove decision-making from the communities directly affected by it.
