Patos residents have once again protested against the project to merge the Patos Municipality with the Fier Municipality. This is the fourth protest held by citizens, who oppose the proposed changes within the framework of the territorial reform and demand that Patos continue to function as a separate local unit.
The protesters are against the city's inclusion in a joint municipality with Fier, arguing that Patos has the capacity to administer its own territory and finances. According to them, the municipality is financially stable and does not bear obligations to the state budget, while over the years significant investments have been made in relation to the size of the city.
One of the main concerns of the residents is related to how investments will be distributed if Patos becomes part of the Fier Municipality. They fear that priorities will be determined by the center of the new municipality and that Patos, along with the surrounding areas, may remain on the back burner.
"Money and investments should be used to solve the problems we have here in Patos," said one of the protesters, demanding that decision-making for the city continue to be made by the community itself.
Pensioners have also joined the protest, raising concerns about the future of the city and the services that will be provided after a possible administrative merger. According to them, moving decision-making away from Patos could lead to less attention to the concrete needs of residents.
For the protesters, the issue is not just about administration and finances, but also about the city's history. Patos is closely linked to the oil industry and the history of its workers, a legacy that residents say must be preserved.
"Here in Patos we will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first strike of oil workers. This story seems to be unknown. Why do they want to destroy the oil workers' town of Patos?", the protesters declared.
Residents also reject the idea that merging with Fier would be just an administrative change. According to them, such a decision would directly affect the way investments are planned, public services are provided, and priorities for the territory are determined.
They demand that Patos maintain local autonomy and that any changes not be made without considering the will of the community. The protesters say they will continue to oppose the project in the coming days.
If their demands are not taken into account, residents warn of an escalation of protests, not excluding the blocking of roads connecting Patos with surrounding areas.
The fourth protest shows that opposition to administrative unification remains strong in Patos. Residents insist that the city should remain a separate municipality, linking this demand not only to territorial administration and investment, but also to the identity and history of a city built around the oil industry.
