Amid objections that have erupted in some of the affected areas, the majority has taken the next step on the new territorial reform by sending municipalities the draft law. The move officially opens the consultation phase, but it comes in a climate of local tension and expected doubts over how community opinions will actually be weighed.
The draft has been sent to municipalities for their opinion
The Socialist Party has forwarded to municipalities the draft law on the new administrative division of local government units. In the accompanying letter, mayors and municipal councils are asked to give their position on the proposal, setting out any objections or alternatives they may have.
Municipalities will have 60 days from receipt of the request to hold hearings with citizens for the purpose of information and consultation. It remains to be seen how much real space this process will have to influence the final map, given that objections began as early as the draft presentation stage.
What the new administrative division provides for
According to the draft, the reform proposes 46 municipalities and 12 counties. The new scheme is organized under the municipality-city model, in which the municipality is made up of cities, while the city is made up of administrative units and villages, considered functional units for planning, representation and service organization.
In total, the proposed structure includes 71 cities and 387 administrative units. Twenty municipalities are expected to have more than one city within them, showing the scale of consolidation this intervention seeks on the local map.
Berat and Elbasan with three-way mergers
The draft also provides for two three-way consolidations. The Municipality of Berat would include three cities: Berat, Dimal and Poliçan. Likewise, the Municipality of Elbasan would include Elbasan, Cërrik and Belsh.
These are among the most visible changes in the proposed scheme and are expected to be among the most debated points at local level, especially in areas where administrative identity and balances of representation are considered sensitive issues.
How the counties are divided and what criteria the majority gives
As for the counties, under the proposal Vlora emerges as the county with the largest number of municipalities, with 6, followed by Korça with 5. Elbasan, Gjirokastra, Shkodra and Tirana will each have 4 municipalities, while the counties of Berat, Dibër, Durrës, Kukës and Lezhë will each have 3 municipalities.
According to the Socialist Party’s version, the assessment of the territory was based on three indicators: the functionality of municipalities, economic performance and urban mass. The responses that municipalities and municipal councils send back on the draft are also expected to rely on these criteria.
Political objective: 2027 local elections under a new map
The majority’s declared aim is for the 2027 elections for local government bodies to be held on the basis of the new territorial division. This places the reform on a clear political timetable and makes the debate over the transparency of the process even more important.
In practice, the clash between the institutional deadline, local interests and protests on the ground is expected to accompany the entire consultation phase, while municipalities will have to state their official position on an intervention that directly affects local representation and administration.
The draft for the territorial reform has thus entered the formal consultation phase, but the climate on the ground shows that the process will not proceed without objections.
The real weight of public hearings with citizens and of municipalities’ opinions remains the main test for a reform that directly affects the map of local power.