Polican Municipal Council resigns over proposed merger with Berat

The Polican Municipal Council has unanimously decided to resign in protest against a proposed territorial reform that would merge the Polican Municipality with Berat. Following this decision, subsequent candidate lists have also resigned.

Protesters and local officials argue that the administrative restructuring will lead to job losses for professionals and administrative staff, decrease property values, and accelerate the depopulation of the city. Council Chair Mimoza Kula stated that the opposition is not directed at the municipal building itself, but at the institution and the services provided to citizens.

Demonstrators have expressed frustration over the perceived absence of Members of Parliament, noting that while meetings were held in three other municipalities within the county, no representatives visited Polican to hear local concerns. The movement has called upon 14 other municipalities potentially affected by the reform to join their cause, and plans are underway to move protests to the Parliament in Tirana.