The debate over territorial reform has returned to Parliament with strong political accusations and no clarity for the public on what is actually being discussed. Sali Berisha claimed that the majority aims to cut another 20 municipalities, while Taulant Balla described this as disinformation and signaled that the issue will return for discussion in September.
Berisha raises the alarm over 20 more municipalities
From the floor of Parliament, Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha declared that the Socialist Party plans to cut another 20 municipalities through the territorial reform.
According to Berisha’s version, the project discussed by the majority affects municipalities spread across the country. He also said that for the Democratic Party, a condition for continuing the process remains obtaining expertise from the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe.
Balla’s response: the claims are disinformation
The head of the Socialist Party parliamentary group, Taulant Balla, responded in ironic tones to Berisha’s accusations and said he was spreading disinformation regarding the issue of dissolving municipalities.
According to Balla, there has been no agreed request for deadline extensions from the relevant commission, and the procedure will continue according to the planned steps. He said that after the 60-day deadline passes, there will again be time in September for discussions on this process.
A process with many statements and little transparency
The clash in Parliament once again highlights a problem that has long accompanied the debate over territorial division: the public hears serious political accusations, but not a clear and documented picture of the drafts that are circulating.
At this stage, the sides are relying on mutual accusations. The opposition speaks of a plan to cut 20 municipalities, while the majority denies it and presents it as misinformation. Without an official text made public and without a transparent process, the debate remains dependent on political versions.
Discussions are expected to return after the summer
According to Balla’s statement in Parliament, the issue is not being closed now and will return to the commission in September. This means that for the moment there is no political or institutional conclusion on the territorial reform.
It remains to be seen whether, in the next round of discussions, a clearer basis of documents and proposals will be published, or whether the debate will continue again only with political exchanges and without real clarification for citizens.
For the moment, the only certain thing is the clash between the sides, not the final content of the reform.
Until September, the public remains between two conflicting versions about the future of the municipalities and the way this process is being conducted.