Prime Minister Edi Rama and some of the members of his cabinet held a meeting this Tuesday morning with the mayors of 61 municipalities, where there were also local elected representatives of the Democratic Party.
At one point in the discussions, the mayor of Puka took the floor to speak, but Rama confused him by expecting Hilë Curri to take the microphone, and not Rrok Dodaj.
The latter is the mayor of Puka, while Curri of Fushë Arrëz Municipality.
"The municipality of Fushë Arrëzi has arrived? Why do I always think you are from Puka?!", said Rama, waiting for Hilë Curri to take the floor, but in fact the one who had the turn to express the concerns of the unit he leads was Rok Dodaj.
Both of these mayors, Rrok Dodaj of Puka and Hilë Curri of Fushë Arrëzi, despite representing the opposition, participate in the meetings organized by Prime Minister Edi Rama with the local elected officials, as well as being involved in the initiatives of the Ministry of State for Local Government, for the better of the communities they represent.
Jokes at the meeting at the Prime Minister's office, between Rama and Rrok Dodaj:
Edi Rama: Has the Municipality of Fushë Arrëzi come? Why do I always think you belong to Puka?! How is the work of a prominent individual, he has a small municipality, you always think that he has the big municipality, not the other one who is next to him and is not as prominent as this first one.
So I'm sorry, but I think you belong to the Municipality of Puka (turns to Mayor Hilë Curri). However, since the name came out, we meet with these others more often, so we won't leave you without...
Rrok Dodaj: Hello Mr. Prime Minister, I am the mayor of Pukë Municipality
Edi Rama: I know, I don't know
Rrok Dodaj: Always with Hila and Fushë Arrëzi, since Puka is one but we are divided into two municipalities, this tries to make Fushë Arrëzi the center. But of course, the old one remains, Puka is big, even if it is divided into 50 municipalities, one remains.
Edi Rama: If Hila were to open this topic with any attempt at a referendum, what connections do I have there, I will say Fushë Arrëzi, but I must announce Hila as eternal president, because Hila is gone and the other one has come, it will look like Fushë Arrëzi as a fake pocket.
Rrok Dodaj: Definitely, definitely I'm not jealous. I thank you. This whole process, which was done from the beginning with the Minister of State, turned out to be something positive in the end. Not only for the salaries, but also the way I approached the legalizations, with those management plans, with this co-governance portal that is a value for us, the residents and the problems.
I am really one and a half years into my mandate as mayor, I am among the municipalities that compete with necessary projects because it is our duty to serve every citizen. It's been a year and a half that I haven't found any kind of opportunity, 0 investment in the Municipality of Puka.
Edi Rama: Are you sure?
Rrok Dodaj: Very safe.