Following a marathon session, MPs approved the new territorial map with 85 votes in favour. The reform reduces the number of municipalities from 61 to 46, while the country’s 12 existing regions will remain unchanged.

The bill was approved in principle with 84 votes in favour, 34 against and no abstentions.

Before the vote, Democratic Party MP Tritan Shehu, on behalf of seven MPs, called for the bill to be put to a roll-call vote, arguing that this would ensure transparency.

The Speaker of Parliament put the proposal to a vote, but it was rejected, with 84 MPs voting against and 32 in favour.

The session then proceeded to a vote amid protests by Democratic Party MPs. They gathered in front of the Speaker’s rostrum and sounded vuvuzelas to express their opposition to the adoption of the territorial reform. DP MPs also threw hard objects towards the Speaker of Parliament.

Under the new territorial map, 15 municipalities will be merged into larger local government units, with the aim of improving territorial administration, financial management and the delivery of public services to citizens.

Specifically, 33 municipalities will remain unchanged, while a further 28 will be affected by the territorial reorganisation.

The municipalities set to lose their status are Fushë-Arrëz, Klos, Rrogozhinë, Dimal, Poliçan, Patos, Divjakë, Selenicë, Maliq, Këlcyrë, Memaliaj, Libohovë, Cërrik, Belsh and Prrenjas.

Specifically, Fushë-Arrëz will merge with Pukë, Klos with Mat, and Rrogozhinë with Kavajë. In Berat County, the municipalities of Dimal and Poliçan will merge with Berat.

Changes are also planned in Elbasan region where Cërrik and Belsh will merge with Elbasan Municipality, while Prrenjas will merge with Librazhd. In Fier County, Patos will be incorporated into Fier Municipality and Divjakë into Lushnjë Municipality.

The territory will be organised into 46 municipalities, 71 constituent towns and 387 administrative units. Each municipality will continue to have one mayor, one municipal council, one administration and a single budget, while the towns will play a role in administrative coordination and service delivery.

The reform also aims to strengthen the financial autonomy of local government, build administrative capacity and adapt the territorial organisation to demographic changes and the requirements of European integration.

The vote followed a lengthy parliamentary session marked by debates between the ruling majority and the opposition over the new territorial map, while protests against the proposed territorial organisation took place outside Parliament.

Parliament also approved the other items on the agenda. However, at the request of Socialist Party parliamentary group leader Taulant Balla, two draft laws and four scheduled interpellations were withdrawn from the agenda and postponed until the next session.

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