In a suspicious act, signed by Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, the government approved on March 12, 2025, a decision that transfers ownership of the buildings of the former Autotraktor Factory, located in the Shkoza area, to the state-owned company KAYO. The government has revoked the ownership rights, which it had previously granted to the Municipality of Tirana in a previous decision.

Following this decision by Belinda Balluku, the opposition has reacted. The head of the group of democratic councilors in the Tirana Municipal Council, Ilir Alimehmeti, accuses the government and Prime Minister Edi Rama of usurping local powers.

Alimehmeti requests an urgent meeting of the Tirana municipal council "to immediately and as a priority address the issue of this property seizure in Administrative Unit No. 1 and to publicly condemn the seizure of local power by the Prime Minister and the Government."

Alimehmet's statement
In continuation of the seizure of local government, the Prime Minister decided with the Council of Ministers to revoke the ownership rights of the Municipality of Tirana and transfer ownership of its assets to Administrative Unit No. 1, an area known as the "Former Vehicle/Autotractor Plant".

This ownership was transferred to the Municipality of Tirana with VKM 219 on March 21, 2017, eight years ago, for use in the implementation of educational programs and for the implementation of social-cultural and sports activities.

What did the Municipality of Tirana do in these 8 years? Nothing?

Now, in a reprehensible act of usurping local powers, the government decides to seize the property of the Municipality of Tirana and transfer it to the Ministry of Defense for the purpose of building weapons and ammunition production factories.

Based on the 2015 "Local Self-Government" law, approved by the Rama government itself, the only body that can handle properties owned by the Municipality of Tirana is the Municipal Council.

For this reason, the Democratic Party asks the Tirana Municipal Council to immediately and as a priority address this issue of this property seizure in Administrative Unit No. 1 and to publicly condemn the seizure of local power by the Prime Minister and the Government.

For military purposes, there are sufficient facilities and terrain that can be used and are located in more suitable areas within the territory of the Municipality of Tirana.

But near people and in residential areas, it is necessary to build nurseries, kindergartens, schools, social facilities and sports fields to support them and their families.

(BalkanWeb)