Clearing public spaces in Korçë: Advisor clashes with the mayor’s director

On the morning of this Tuesday in the southeastern Albanian city of Korçë, municipal workers, along with the Director of Territorial Control and municipal police officers, took to the field to begin an operation to clear public spaces.

At the city pedestrian zone, the director confronted independent advisor Lazjon Petri, who had arrived at the scene in support of the businesses.

Petri requested an official decision from the municipality regarding the operation, emphasizing that the pedestrian zone has been in the same condition for years and that the business owners have been compliant with tax payments.

“It’s completely unclear. We want a decision; if you don’t have one, continue. But why did you suddenly remember today, when the pedestrian zone has been like this for years, and everyone was in order, paying fees and taxes according to their permits? You woke up today and say we are without permits — how is that? I am a citizen and I stand with the entrepreneurs here. You are acting against the law,” Petri told the director.

Meanwhile, the director stated that the operation would continue and that any complaints from businesses could be addressed to the relevant legal institutions.

It’s worth recalling that just a few days ago, Mayor Sotiraq Filo himself announced that the municipality had reached an understanding with the business owners regarding the clearing of public spaces, giving them a relatively generous deadline to dismantle unauthorized structures.

According to Filo, all venues have until August 17, the day the Beer Festival ends, to remove structures that obstruct movement and occupy public spaces, while tents can be kept temporarily.

“The discussion with the businesses yesterday was handled by me as a constructive discussion, where I was open to hearing and accepting, to some extent, the real concerns of the businesses.

They were given this deadline by me until August 17, which coincides with the closing of the Beer Festival, but in the meantime they were asked to remove all other elements—pedestals, pots—and the tents can remain until August 17 and then be replaced,” said the mayor.

However, the clearing operation started this Tuesday, August 5, many days before the deadline set by Filo himself.

“KORÇA BOOM”