The residents of Patos have spoken out against the Socialist Party's plan for territorial reform, which envisages the merger of this municipality with that of Fier. A representative group of the community, including actors, politicians and writers, have written a letter to the Parliament, requesting information and a full analysis before this plan is approved. The letter states that the community demands that the municipality be preserved as a separate unit of local self-government.
"Within the framework of the Administrative-Territorial Reform process, we present this submission regarding the territorial and administrative status of the Patos Municipality.
The Patos community demands that, before any decision-making on changing the status of this municipality or on its merger with the Municipality of Fier, a complete, objective and verifiable analysis be carried out and made public on: the functionality of the Municipality of Patos; its administrative capacity; financial capacity; the economic structure of the territory; demographic characteristics; geographical features; citizens' access to services; administrative history; social and cultural identity; the impact of the oil and gas industry; the costs and benefits of a possible merger with Fier; alternatives to the merger. The community's position is that the Municipality of Patos should be preserved as a separate unit of local self-government," the letter states.
According to them, this analysis should be made public and take into consideration the functionality of the Patos Municipality, its administrative and financial capacities, the economic structure, as well as the demographic and geographical characteristics of the territory. The letter also requires an assessment of citizens' access to services, administrative history, social and cultural identity, and the impact of the oil and gas industry on the territory.
Another point of the request is related to the analysis of the costs and benefits that a possible merger with Fier would bring, as well as the consideration of alternatives to the merger. At the end of the letter, the signatories express the position that the Municipality of Patos should be preserved as a separate unit of local self-government.
