City council debates, opposition wants theatre withdrawn

City council debates, opposition wants theatre withdrawn

Though it was not on the agenda, the debate on the Law on the Theater opened the last meeting of the Tirana Municipal Council. 

Opposition advisors abandoned the gathering after directing accusations towards Mayor Erion Veliaj over the construction of the new Theater. 

The head of the right-wing advisors, Kreshnik Çollaku, urged Parliament to withdraw the law on the Theater and turn the power to the municipal council for the alienation of the Municipality's property.

"In Tirana there is a conflict; a conflict for the theater. Artists, civil society, pedagogues and internationals are involved. Each has his own causes and theses, someone protects and someone opposes. But the essence of this conflict is not the Theater. 

"Through a casual emergence, this project has paved the way for another plan; one that has been hatched over years and years, not yet accomplished, but is apparently today trying to be concluded. 

"That plan is the construction of 6 multi-storey towers in the heart of Tirana," said Kreshnik Çollaku.

After the opposition councilors left, Mayor Veliaj responded to their accusations by saying that when the opposition was in power, they took over private property with the Council of Ministers decision.

The mayor retorted to the opposition that he is ready to face any candidate they may send for the next election, as there will be no denying that the balance of positive impact made to society will easily fall on him. 

After so many instances of the opposition abandoning the meetings, the City Council has failed to adopt some important decisions and this is having a direct impact on the citizens, especially those in need. 

Meanwhile, one advisor, Mirela Bogdani, left the majority to join the opposition as an independent MP.

EMISIONET