The extended meeting that Edi Rama called on Wednesday with Socialist MPs and ministers comes just a few days after one of the most tense moments within the majority: the vote on the Territorial Reform. The new map with 46 municipalities passed with 85 votes, but not without opposition. Erion Braçe, Vullnet Sinaj and Elisa Spiropali had expressed reservations about the draft, while in the end all three raised the green card.
The most vocal was Braçe. Before the vote, he had opposed the idea that the reform would be reduced only to changing administrative boundaries, demanding more powers, finances and autonomy for local government. But when the moment of the vote came, Braçe aligned himself with the rest of the socialist group.
A day later, the MP gave his explanation publicly. He said that he had chosen to remain in the parliamentary group to continue the task that, according to him, the citizens had given him by vote. At the same time, Braçe criticized the way in which unity was sought within the SP, referring to the logic of “either vote, or you are out of this group”. This was precisely the formula that, according to reports, Rama had used before the session: “Whoever does not vote for the territorial reform today, let him leave.”
Belinda Balluku also appeared in the decisive vote, after a long period of absence from plenary sessions. She voted in favor of the new map and her presence brought strong tensions with the opposition in the hall. The reform that initially highlighted the cracks within the socialist group ended with the full majority vote. The contradictions remained in the statements, while on the electronic board the group emerged united.
