They tried to rebel, how Braçe and Spiropali turned into 'silent scoundrels'

The Territorial Reform was approved at 1:15 am on October 9, with 85 votes in favor of the majority, after a marathon session accompanied by debates and tensions not only with the opposition, but also among the socialists themselves.

But beyond the result, attention was drawn to two majority MPs, Erion Braçe and Elisa Spiropali, who had publicly declared their position against this reform. Among the names who opposed it was also mentioned the socialist Vullnet Sinaj, but although he sided with the green cards, he has so far neither denied nor accepted his position. 

Specifically, Braçe opposed the new administrative-territorial map, while Elisa Spiropali questioned whether changing the number of municipalities could be considered a genuine reform. Both criticized, with different arguments, the way the process was being carried out, but when the moment of voting came, both joined the majority.

Rama's pressure for the vote
Before the reform went to the vote, the socialist leader Rama held a meeting with the Socialist Party parliamentary group, where he requested the unification of the votes. According to media reports, the prime minister had a debate that lasted about 45 minutes with Erion Braça, to secure his support for the reform.  

According to reports, during the meeting, Rama asked MPs to support the project and warned that those who would not vote in favor should leave the parliamentary group.

" Whoever doesn't vote for territorial reform today, let them go ," the prime minister is reported to have said. 

Publicly, Bracher had stated that changing the administrative map did not in itself guarantee a sustainable reform and that there should be a more extensive discussion about the competencies and financing of local government.

“The sustainability of reforms does not come from votes, but from principles ,” declared Brace. Essentially, his opposition was related to the fact that such a reform could not be reduced to the merger or division of local units. But after the debate with Rama and the group meeting, Brace voted in favor. 

Asked after the session if the prime minister had convinced him, he replied: "He didn't convince me at all, I'm still against it ."

When asked why he had voted in favor, the MP said he would explain later: " I'll explain to you tomorrow ."

So, Brace insisted that he had not changed his position on the map, but his vote was in line with the majority's decision. At this point, the contrast between statements and political action is clear, while the full motive for the decision remains to be explained by him.

'We are not cardboard' , but the vote went in favor

Even the SP MP , Elisa Spiropali, gave a critical speech in the Assembly about the way the reform was being named.

“I believe that today, the Territorial Reform, is not a reform. We must say it here openly ,” she declared. Spiropali argued that the issue is not simply how many municipalities the country will have, but how much power, competence and autonomy they should have. She demanded that responsibility not be seen only in the mayors of municipalities, but at all levels of government.

But her most direct criticism was of the way MPs are managed within the party.

" We are neither cardboard boxes nor irresponsible people. The way you address us is revolting. The mayor tells you what to do and you do it ," said Spiropali.

So, her words created the impression of distancing herself from obedience to the mayor's decision, but when the moment came to vote, Spiropali voted in favor of the reform, and lined up with the other obedient soldiers. 

In the end, the public rebellion changed neither the result of the vote nor the decision of the majority.

As was seen from the vote, Braçe and Spiropali raised their voices, but when the moment came to choose between their expressed position and the vote, they submitted to Edi Rama's orders and pressures, convincing us more that their charade was ignited in the speeches, but there was no explosion in the vote./ S.Gj-Politiko.al