The Albanian Municipalities Association, headed by Shkodra mayor Voltana Ademi, has asked President Ilir Meta not to sign the law for the demolition of the National Theater, as it infringes on the autonomy of local government.
Via a letter, the Association argues that the law passed by the Parliament on July 5, providing the demolition of the National Theater to make way for the construction of skyscrapers, should have first gone through Tirana’s Municipal Council, seeing as the public land in question belongs to the Tirana municipality:
The local self-governance law gives municipalities the right to manage public property, including the right to use and expropriate them, always to the best interest of the public. This same law further details the rights of the Municipal Council, that, with no less than a 3/5ths approval, may decide to transfer ownership of real estate.
The Parliament of the Republic of Albania approving the [Theater law] marks an infringement of local government rights by the government and the Parliament, treading on principles of local autonomy sanctioned by the Albanian legal code and ratified international agreements.
The Municipalities Association expresses its concern at central government’s interference in the jurisdiction of local government. The government, with its power and mechanisms, is setting dangerous precedents by interfering, for its own interests, in the decision-making process of the local government, municipal councils and the community as a whole.
The case of law 37/2018 “Concerning the determination of the special procedure for the negotiation and signing the contract for ‘the design and realisation of the urban project of the new building of the National Theater’,” has the potential to become a bad model for other municipalities in Albania.
In the letter, the Albanian Municipalities Association also brings up the issue of violating public procurement regulations delineated in the Stabilization and Association Agreement, that makes up the regulatory framework between the EU and our country.
A few days ago, the Alliance for the Protection of the National Theater officially asked President Meta not to sign the law that will allow the demolition of the Theater building and make way for the private company Fusha shpk to build several skyscrapers on public land.
