The Democratic Party’s parliamentary group said its draft law on Albania’s administrative‑territorial division is supported by a 168‑page explanatory report. The document analyses all legal criteria for restructuring local government units and underpins the proposal for 100 municipalities and 12 regions.

The Democratic Party’s parliamentary group said the administrative‑territorial reform should not be seen as a battle over the number of municipalities. The core issue, it argued, is the model of local government Albania seeks to build. The party insisted it is not proposing more municipalities to create additional posts, but functional municipalities where needed to ensure greater proximity, democracy, accountability, services, autonomy and development.

The Democratic Party’s parliamentary group said its proposal for 12 regions is not intended to create another layer of bureaucracy. Instead, the structures are designed to foster development, coordination, investment and new opportunities across the territory. Above all, the party stressed it is not proposing a map to serve the administration of power, but one that serves citizens, communities and territorial development.

On the basis of expert technical analysis, lessons from the 2014 territorial reform, citizen consultations and the need for a new model of local governance, the Democratic Party’s parliamentary group has put forward a plan for 100 municipalities and 12 regions. The proposal is underpinned by principles of genuine decentralisation, financial autonomy, clear competences, accountability, local democracy and balanced territorial development.

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