The discussion on territorial reform in the Laws Committee degenerated into a political clash, as the focus at the table shifted away from the substance of the initiatives and toward accusations of boycott, obstruction of the committee’s work, and political rhetoric between MPs.
The request to merge the two initiatives opened the debate
At the meeting of the Laws Committee, MP Xhelal Mziu requested that the two submitted initiatives on territorial reform be reviewed together.
The request was opposed by Socialist Party MP Zegjine Çaushi, who linked the move to the opposition’s earlier boycott of the committee.
Çaushi accuses the opposition of boycott and blocking the work
During the debate, Çaushi said the opposition could not come to the committee to block its work and engage in what she described as “political rhetoric” or a “political show.”
She insisted that the two initiatives could not be merged, arguing that the opposition had boycotted the committee’s work for four months and only afterward had submitted its own initiative.
The tone hardened with personal exchanges
The clash quickly moved from a procedural debate to personal exchanges. Çaushi addressed Mziu with ironic remarks about his absence during the months of the boycott, also mentioning the “beach” and staying at home.
Ulsi Manja also intervened in the discussion, reacting to the language used in the committee and asking whether the reference to the “beach” was aimed only at Mziu or had a broader meaning.
Mziu calls for application of the law, not political arbitrariness
For his part, Xhelal Mziu responded in similarly political tones, mocking Çaushi’s role in the debate and calling for the committee to proceed on the basis of the law.
He objected to the discussion being guided by personal positions or political recommendations, insisting on the application of the committee’s rules and consideration of his request.
The debate in the Laws Committee once again showed that territorial reform is being handled in a tense political climate, where procedure and substance often remain in the shadows amid clashes between the majority and the opposition.
For the moment, the request to merge the two initiatives met with opposition from the majority, while the discussion continued in strong tones within the committee.