Protests against the announced changes to the local map are taking on an openly political tone. After appearing at the General Prosecution Office to comply with the “obligation to appear” measure, Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha spoke to the media and publicly aligned himself with opposition to the Territorial Reform, describing the public reaction as legitimate and attacking the government for a centralizing approach.
Statement after appearing at the Prosecution Office
Berisha commented on the protests that have begun in several municipalities, including Poliçan, where there is opposition to the proposals for the new map. In his view, these reactions are justified and should be supported politically.
He said he was calling on municipalities that risk being removed from the map to react and not accept the decision-making as a done deal. The statement came at a time when the debate over territorial organization is once again returning to the center of political confrontation.
Call for uninterrupted protests
The Democratic Party leader went further, encouraging citizens of former municipalities that, according to the opposition, should be restored to the map, to enter into a process of continuous protests.
He called for unity with what he described as a civic youth protest, presenting opposition to the reform as a cause for local rights and the representation of communities that feel threatened by the administrative changes.
Strong accusations against Rama
In his statement, Berisha accused Prime Minister Edi Rama of acting in an authoritarian manner and of pushing forward, instead of decentralization, a model of extreme centralization.
According to Berisha, the Territorial Reform is not being presented as a technical intervention for local administration, but as a political tool that increases the center’s control over local units. This remains a political accusation by the opposition, while no response from the government is included here regarding these claims.
Clash over the new local map
The issue of the territorial map remains one of the most sensitive topics in the relationship between the central government and local authorities, especially in areas where citizens and local leaders claim that the changes affect their administrative identity and representation.
Berisha’s reaction aims to turn this dissatisfaction into political pressure on the government. At the heart of the debate remains the question of whether the reform is being built on real needs of local administration, or whether it is again being used as an instrument of control from the center.
Protests in several municipalities are once again pushing the Territorial Reform to the forefront of public debate.
Beyond the political rhetoric, what remains to be seen is whether the government will provide full arguments for the proposed changes and how opposition from local communities will be addressed.