After the vote on the new territorial map, Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha came forward with a new political promise: restoring 100 municipalities if the PD comes to power. The statement comes amid a long-running debate over the administrative division, where the sides continue to use the territorial map as political proof of the success or failure of local governance.
PD’s promise after the map vote
In a conversation with citizens, Berisha said the 100 promised municipalities will become a reality. According to him, alongside them, another number of municipalities and communes could also be restored.
This position was presented as part of the opposition’s program to review local organization, at a time when the issue of the territorial map has once again returned to the center of political debate.
Accusations against the 2015 reform
Berisha linked this promise to criticism of the 2015 territorial reform, for which he blamed Prime Minister Edi Rama. According to his version, that reform has weakened local governance and has contributed to the depopulation of the country.
At the core of the opposition’s accusation is the claim that the removal of services from smaller units and the concentration of local power have reduced the real functioning of municipalities on the ground.
Restoring municipalities as a solution for abandoned areas
Berisha said the restoration of local units is seen by the PD as a mechanism to encourage residents to return to abandoned areas. According to him, the weakening of local government has directly affected the departure of citizens from their places of residence.
This is a political claim with electoral weight, but it remains to be seen how it would translate into a concrete administrative and financial draft, especially regarding the cost and effects such a review would bring for the public budget and local administration.
The territorial debate remains open
With this appearance, the opposition is once again pushing the debate on the territorial map onto ground where the clash is not only administrative, but also political. On one side is the promise to restore the lost units, while on the other it remains unanswered what concrete model would work better for citizens.
Beyond the statements, the issue directly affects local representation, access to services, and the way powers are distributed at the local level — topics that for years have remained the subject of polemics between the government and the opposition.
Berisha’s statement brings back to the forefront one of the most contested reforms of recent years, with promises of reversal that, for the moment, remain at the level of political commitment.
In the absence of a detailed plan, the debate over the 100 municipalities is expected to be read not only as an offer for local governance, but also as a test of the opposition’s credibility in relation to an issue that directly affects life in communities.