TIRANA, July 31/ATA/ During a press conference, Chairman of the Democratic Party Sali Berisha blasted the 2014 territorial reform as a setback that has fueled rural depopulation and degraded local public services. He argued that slashing local government units from 410 to 61 municipalities has isolated rural communities and eliminated direct local representation. According to Berisha, this centralization stifled development and spurred emigration, noting that former communes—such as Shëngjergj, Baldushk, Prizë, and Ndroq—have received no public investments since 2013.
Sali Berisha criticized the government’s plan to shrink municipalities from 61 to 46, warning it worsens local issues and speeds up depopulation. He noted the Democratic Party backs a new reform to empower rural regions, and accused the majority of abandoning public consultations after facing widespread backlash.
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