New details have emerged from the over 4-hour meeting that Prime Minister Edi Rama held in Kuç, Vlora, with the heads of several municipalities. Media reports that during the meeting, Rama debated with the mayors of Selenica and Divjaka, Nertil Bello and Josif Gorrea. The latter two opposed Rama and Arbjan Mazniku for the merger of the municipalities.
Bello and Gorrea have stood by their arguments against the merger of municipalities, citing Peqin, Vau e Dejës and Roskoceci, which were again left as separate municipalities, as examples. For his part, the Prime Minister has claimed that the mayors of these municipalities are inciting the communities of those areas against the territorial reform.
Rama has also clashed sharply with the mayor of Dimal, Juliana Memaj. Ironically, Rama addressed her, saying "you great leaders". Mema has responded that they have become like municipal workers.
"What a black leader! We have become like municipal workers," Juliana Memaj is reported to have said. The mayor's statement angered Rama, who asked her to leave the meeting.
The meeting was also held in harsh tones with the mayor of Poliçan, Adriatik Zotkaj. Rama told Zotkaj that he should not have been at the meeting at all. The Prime Minister also mentioned the burning of the cards, which he said was an act of impudence.
"You shouldn't have been here at all. What the policeman did by burning the cards was an act of impudence," Rama told Zotkaj.
Zotkaj, who has publicly been against the merger of the Poliçan municipality, responded to Rama, telling him that if there is any ingratitude, it is that of the Socialist Party.
"The community responded to the ungrateful actions of the SP and the Prime Minister. If there is any ungratefulness, it is that of the SP," said Zotkaj and left the meeting together with Dimal's meme.
Rama has stated that "this is a reform for Albania and not a reform for one municipality or another." "The reform will move forward," Rama is reported to have said. ©LAPSI.al
