Prime Minister Edi Rama has from Gjirokastër articulated another signal of intervention in the map and functioning of local government, this time with the direct admission that administrative units “are not functioning properly.” According to the version made public by Rama himself, the discussion focused on the reorganization of municipalities, the representation of cities, and possible mergers between some local units in the south of the country.
Informational meeting in Gjirokastër, focused on territorial reform
Images and positions from the meeting were published by Rama on Facebook, where he presented the gathering as a discussion on territorial reform for the municipalities of Gjirokastër County.
According to the prime minister, the meeting discussed a more functional organization of local governance and more direct representation of cities in municipal councils.
Open admission that administrative units are not functioning
In his statement, Rama stressed the need to reorganize administrative units and for a more rational concentration of functions at the local level.
He said the aim is for some functions, which according to him small municipalities cannot cope with and even large ones find difficult, to be organized differently. He also acknowledged that administrative units today “are not functioning properly” and are not carrying out the role they should have.
What is being proposed for the governance of cities
According to Rama, in the model under discussion each city will have its own leader, who will at the same time also hold the post of deputy mayor.
He added that cities will have their representatives on the municipal council and that the council will be divided by quotas. These are the main elements the government is presenting as part of a reformatting of local government.
Possible mergers between municipalities also on the table
In the post accompanying the footage, Rama mentioned a discussion without the media about the possible mergers of Libohovë–Gjirokastër, Memaliaj–Tepelenë, and Këlcyrë–Përmet.
According to him, these moves would serve the economic and social strengthening of communities, the rationalization of human resources at the local level, and preparation for working with EU accession funds. At this stage, no further details have been made public on the criteria, deadlines, or the concrete impact these mergers would have on residents and local administration.
The discussion opened by the government brings back to the forefront a sensitive issue for local government: whether a reform that the government itself has defended for years is being corrected, or whether another administrative intervention is being prepared with political and financial consequences for municipalities.
For the moment, what has been made public remains at the declarative level, while concrete decision-making and transparency on costs, representation, and effects on the ground remain unclear.