The statements made by the chairman of the Commission for Administrative-Territorial Reform, Arbjan Mazniku, on the possibility of the Municipality of Përrenjas merging and functioning as an administrative unit of the Municipality of Librazhd, have caused a strong wave of reactions throughout the territory of Përrenjas.
In just a few days, opposition to this idea has united citizens, former mayors, former MPs, municipal councilors, and community representatives, who consider this scenario unacceptable and a blow to the identity, history, and development of Përrenjas.
According to them, Prrenjas is not simply an administrative unit, but a municipality with history, tradition and development potential, which should not lose its status.
Reactions have been numerous on social networks, where many citizens have openly expressed opposition to any initiative aimed at unifying with Librazhd.
In addition to public reactions, a petition has also been organized and signed, which has been widely signed by hundreds of residents of the Municipality of Prrenjas, demanding that the government and the Commission for Administrative-Territorial Reform withdraw from this idea.
The debate was also reflected in the recent meeting of the Prrenjas Municipal Council, where the issue of territorial reform dominated the discussions. The municipal councilors requested clarifications from the mayor, Nuri Belba, regarding the published information and the institutional stance on this proposal, emphasizing that the community expects transparency and protection of the municipality's interests.
The peak of the reaction was marked on Tuesday evening, when hundreds of citizens gathered in the center of Prrenjas in a protest without political differences. Under the motto of protecting the identity and future of the city, the participants demanded that the Municipality of Prrenjas not be dissolved and continue to exist as an independent local unit.
Participants emphasized that this is a civic and not a political cause, stating that preserving the municipality is a common interest for all residents, regardless of party affiliation.
Meanwhile, former mayors, former MPs and well-known figures from the area have come out publicly and spoken out massively on social networks against the possibility of merging with Librazhd, arguing that such a decision would have consequences for the institutional representation, administration of public services and economic development of Përrenjas.
Citizens have warned that the petition will be sent to the responsible institutions, while they do not rule out organizing other protests if the proposal for the merger of the Municipality of Përrenjas with Librazhd continues to remain part of the discussions for the new administrative-territorial reform.
The Municipality of Prrenjas ranks 31st among the 61 municipalities of our country in terms of population with over 20.000 inhabitants and is ranked among the municipalities with an average population that meets the EU conditions and standards to be a municipality in its own right, while half of the other municipalities in Albania have less than 10.000 inhabitants and some others do not reach 15.000 inhabitants.
