The Socialist Party has circulated its proposal for territorial reform, a new intervention in the administrative map that directly affects local government. According to the published version, the country will move from 61 to 46 municipalities, while also envisaging 71 constituent towns and 387 administrative units.
What changes in the new map
According to the Socialist Party proposal, the reduction in the number of municipalities comes through new administrative mergers. Alongside the 46 municipalities, the scheme also includes 71 towns and 387 administrative units.
The Socialist Party has also distributed the new map of the territorial division by counties, turning the debate from a technical level into a direct political issue and one of local representation.
Municipalities removed from the current scheme
The list of municipalities that would no longer remain as separate units includes Fushë-Arrëz, Klos, Rrogozhinë, Dimal, Poliçan, Patos, Divjakë, Selenicë, Maliq, Këlcyrë, Memaliaj, Libohovë, Cërrik, Belsh and Përrenjas.
This reduction affects several units that have had a consolidated local identity, which is expected to raise questions not only about the efficiency of the reform, but also about how the interests of local communities have been weighed.
Përrenjas merged with Librazhd amid opposition
One of the most striking points is the merger of Përrenjas with the municipality of Librazhd. This move appears in the proposal despite protests in recent days against the decision.
The fact that local opposition has not been reflected in any change to the publicly released version adds to doubts over the real weight given to community reactions in such reorganization processes.
Debate expected to shift to the legitimacy of the reform
At this stage, the Socialist Party proposal opens a broader debate over the criteria for the new territorial division, local representation, and the balance between central decision-making and the local voice.
Beyond the numbers and the new map, the key question remains whether this reform will be seen as a functional reorganization or as a political imposition on the local units directly affected.
The published proposal places territorial reform once again at the center of political and local confrontation.
In particular, the case of Përrenjas shows that the new map is not being read simply as an administrative issue, but also as a test of how citizen opposition is heard.