The Deputy Chairman of the Democratic Party, Nikola Kedhi, has reacted to Prime Minister Edi Rama's meeting with the socialist mayors of the municipalities in Kuç, Vlora, describing it as a "session of threats and insults" and not as a consultation process for territorial reform.

According to Kedhi, Rama had called the mayors for consultation on the proposed changes to the territorial map, but the meeting, according to him, was accompanied by tensions and several mayors were thrown out of the meeting. "Yesterday, in Kuç, Vlora, Edi Rama gathered the socialist mayors of the municipalities that he has decided to merge, as part of the electoral map that he calls Territorial Reform. He had called them for consultation, but the 'consultative session' quickly turned into a session of threats and insults," Kedhi declared.

He compared the situation to “meetings of communist cells,” accusing the prime minister of facing growing opposition to the territorial reform. According to the DP deputy leader, in several municipalities and communities, including Poliçan, Selenica, Divjaka and Dimal, citizens are opposing the proposed changes and organizing protests.

Kedhi also claims that municipal councils have voted unanimously against the merger of several municipalities, describing this as a sign of dissatisfaction even within the local structures of the Socialist Party. "The problem for Rama is not territorial reform. The problem is that, after years of pressure, arrogance and absolute control, people have started to say no. They are even saying no to his own," he said.

Statement by the Deputy Leader of the Democratic Party, Nikola Kedhi:

Yesterday, in Kuç, Vlora, Edi Rama gathered the socialist mayors of the municipalities that he has decided to dissolve, as part of the electoral map that he calls Territorial Reform. He had called them for consultation, but the 'consultative session' quickly turned into a session of threats and insults. Several mayors were thrown out.

This is how Edi Rama conceives of the masses. When he behaves like this with the elected, imagine what he does with those he himself appointed. For ordinary people, you don't need to strain your imagination, because you have seen him insult and humiliate them with his voice and image.

This scene, like in the meetings of communist cells, where collaborators were expelled from the meeting and the party, and then 'decorated' with a bullet, shows Rama in panic.

In Poliçan, Selenica, Divjaka, Dimal and other communities, citizens are realizing that they are not condemned to accept every decision that comes from Tirana.

They are opposing. They are protesting. They are speaking out. They are killing fear. And this is precisely what Rama cannot stand. A decade of propaganda, pressure, and coercion is crumbling. The millions spent on patronage and election rigging are no longer enough.

Citizens, including socialists, are rejecting the autocracy, arrogance, and contempt he displays for them. Several municipal councils have voted unanimously against the merger.

The problem for Rama is not territorial reform. The problem is that, after years of pressure, arrogance and absolute control, people have started to say no to him. Even his own people are saying no to him. Yesterday we saw his reaction, his arrogance towards people who are locally elected, not employees of the Prime Minister's Office.

But there is another absurdity. After all this, government propaganda tells us that Edi Rama has 'started consultations'. Consultations about what? About an electoral map that he made without asking anyone? About municipalities that he has publicly announced that he will dissolve? About a political decision that he has ordered the communities to make and now asks them to accept?

This is not a consultation. Consultation is not done to convince the citizen of a previously made decision. Consultation is done so that the citizen's opinion influences the decision. The Constitution of the Republic of Albania stipulates that the boundaries of local government units cannot be changed without first consulting the population residing in them. The European Charter of Local Self-Government requires prior consultation of communities on changes to boundaries and consultation of local authorities, in due time, on issues that directly affect them.

The Democratic Party has a completely different concept of local government. We believe in the decentralization of powers and finances, not in the concentration of power. In municipalities and services close to the citizen, not in giant municipalities far from him. In the community that decides for itself and preserves its identity, not in the Prime Minister who decides for every community.

These principles are shared by citizens everywhere in Albania. That is why today the country has risen in protest. Albanians are losing their fear and have realized that their voice has value and another Albania is possible. We stand with citizens and communities in their battle to protect their identity and future. Yesterday in Kuç we did not see the strength of Edi Rama. We saw the panic of the scarecrow at the head of the field that no longer scares anyone.