Berisha described the vote as an act directed against the citizens of the 15 municipalities and added that ruling majority MPs had faced pressure and blackmail.

“In the dead of night, a flagrant betrayal was carried out against our citizens. Driven by corruption, bribery and criminal self-interest, the ruling MPs turned their backs on the people who elected them. Held hostage by their own greed and stolen wealth, they voted in unison to execute a collective crime: the complete abolition of 15 municipalities. With a single vote, they fired a devastating arrow straight at the heart of our local communities,” said Berisha.

Berisha stated that the territorial reform is one of the country’s most important reforms, as it is directly linked to local governance, economic development, the preservation of cultural heritage and the protection of community identities.

According to him, the Democratic Party engaged in the territorial reform process and proposed a model featuring at least 100 municipalities nationwide, but the Parliamentary majority withdrew from consultations.

“This is a lawless assembly that has lost all legitimacy to govern. Abandoning any sense of honor or public service, its members act exclusively out of self-interest and nepotism,” he said.

Berisha emphasized that the DP would pursue every legal battle against the abolition of the 15 municipalities and noted that they are currently collecting signatures for a referendum.

“While condemning this act in the strongest possible terms, the DP declares that it will continue every legal battle against the abolition of the 15 municipalities and in support of its own ‘100-plus municipalities’ proposal. To this end, we have begun collecting signatures for a referendum,” said Berisha.

“We will examine all modalities for local and national referendums, through which we are deeply convinced we are protecting the interests of Albanian citizens from a gang—from a criminal organization known as the Parliament,” he said. /m.q/a.f/p.s./

The organization’s petition condemns the widespread poisoning of dogs and cats across Albania, citing hundreds of annual cases over the past several years. It highlights a failure of the justice system, noting that despite formal charges filed since 2023, most cases have been dismissed without effective investigations or any accountability.

To address the management of stray animals, Animals Need Me urges Albanian authorities to implement humane, European-standard policies. “Our comprehensive demands include expanding sterilization and identification programs, strictly investigating and prosecuting cases of animal cruelty, and holding local governments accountable for animal welfare,” reads the petition.

Poisoning animals is a cruel practice that endangers public health and the environment. The organization calls on authorities to treat this as a serious threat and update the public on their planned interventions.

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Mayors in these municipalities were elected after the Serbs boycotted the elections.

The first petition is being signed to dismiss the mayor of North Mitrovica Erden Atiq (LVV), who was was elected after the Serbs boycotted the elections.

The Kosovo government issued an administrative order to allow the removal of municipal mayors from office through a petition process. To initiate the dismissal of Mayor Atiq, a total of 3,640 signatures are required.

Serb List officials led the petition process.

Radio Free Europe said that similar petitions will be signed for removal of the Albanian mayors in the municipalities of Zveçan, Leposaviq and Zubin Potok  next week.

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