Prime Minister Edi Rama addressed a clear and firm message to Socialist MPs this Thursday, at the Parliamentary Group meeting, warning them that anyone who does not vote for the territorial reform no longer has a place in the Socialist Party.
“Whoever does not vote for territorial reform today should leave,” Edi Rama is quoted as saying, according to what journalist Muhamed Veliu has learned from sources within the group.
Democratic leader Sali Berisha also warned at the start of the plenary session that the meeting of the SP Group was accompanied by strong debates and open threats against MPs who may vote against the merger of municipalities.
Sali Berisha said that Prime Minister Edi Rama, according to him, has addressed the MPs with a house book, so that they support the reform. For his own MPs, the democratic leader said that there will be no vote leakage from the opposition.
Media outlets close to the Assembly headquarters report that the socialist MP for Vlora, Vullnet Sinaj, who in the Laws Committee voted against the merger of 15 municipalities, including that of Selenica, where he is from, has today decided to vote in favor.
Along with Erion Braçe, he was the second who had not yet decided and could ruin things for the Socialist Party, because previously the departed Marjana Koçeku said that she would also vote against.
Now that Vullnet Sinaj has changed his mind, it is expected what the other socialist Erion Braçe will do. Until this morning, he has not taken a firm stance on whether he will vote FOR or AGAINST the merger of the 15 municipalities.