The debate over the new territorial division is once again entering a phase of political confrontation, with strong accusations over the way local government is being conceived. Luçiano Boçi, co-chair of the Commission for Administrative-Territorial Reform, opposes the Socialist Party proposal for 46 municipalities, presenting it as a model that, he says, moves citizens away from the center of local decision-making.
Boçi: fewer municipalities, more concentration
According to Boçi, the 46-municipality scheme makes local units larger, administrative centers more distant, and pushes decision-making toward greater concentration. He argues that what may be presented on paper as administrative savings translates in practice into higher costs for citizens.
He says administrative subdivisions should not replace real local representation, because for remote communities, services such as roads, water supply, irrigation canals, cleaning, lighting, transport, schools and health centers remain everyday issues, not peripheral problems.
Opposition to the proposed mergers
In his argument, Boçi singles out several cases he describes as unjustified, such as the merger of Tepelena with Memaliaj, Fushë-Arrëz with Pukë, and Librazhd with Prrenjas. He also claims that in some cases municipalities with better performance could be absorbed by weaker ones.
Along these lines, he mentions Dimal against Berat, Selenicë against Vlorë, Patos against Fier, as well as Maliq, saying that not every merger automatically produces a more functional municipality. According to him, units such as Libohovë, Këlcyrë, Belsh and Cërrik should continue to exist on their own because of the identity and cohesion of their communities.
PD defends the version with around 100 municipalities
Boçi says the Democratic Party project with around 100 municipalities aims to bring decision-making closer to citizens, preserve local representation and improve services. According to this position, a more reasonable administrative territory makes it harder for local leaders to evade responsibility.
He argues that a model with more municipalities does not necessarily mean a bloated administration, since it can be combined with shared services, digitalization, national standards and stronger financial control. In essence, he says, the main issue is not the number on the map, but how close government remains to the community.
Clash over representation and depopulation
Another point raised by Boçi is the effect such a reform could have on small towns, at a time when the country is facing depopulation. According to him, removing status, institutions and the decision-making center from these areas risks further reducing the reasons for people to remain there.
He also questions the formula of administrative units as a substitute for the municipality, stressing that an appointed administrator does not replace an elected mayor and that a local office is not the same as local decision-making. According to him, this directly affects the political weight of small communities within large municipalities.
The debate over the new territorial division is being framed as a choice between administrative efficiency and proximity to citizens, but the real clash remains over who gains more power from the new map.
For now, there are two opposing political versions: a Socialist Party proposal for 46 municipalities and a Democratic Party version with around 100. Over them remains the essential question also raised by the opposition: is local government being reorganized to serve citizens, or to make the job easier for the central administration?