Speaking at the “Renewal Pulpit” gathering in Elbasan, Berisha remarked that the rather than fixing past mistakes, the new territorial reform is intensifying them.

“They have no interest in the citizens. Instead of correcting the major mistakes that were made, they are exacerbating the situation by eliminating another 15 municipalities,” he said.

Specifically, Berisha noted that in Elbasan region, three municipalities—which are fully functional, successful and serve the citizens’ interests—are slated for dissolution.

“But, they have no interest other than their own power. We have a plan. Our plan is public. Far from eliminating municipalities, we intend to add at least 40 more—both here in Elbasan region and across every region of Albania—to bring local government closer to the citizens,” he emphasized. Berisha also emphasized that the Democratic Party is determined to double salaries and pensions as a primary commitment for its first term in office, as well as to abolish taxes on all food products.

Speaking from Elbasan, Berisha also declared a policy of zero tolerance toward organized crime.

“I declare here, from this hall, to the criminal organizations of Elbasan, Durrës, Shkodra, and all of Albania, that you will find no refuge on earth, but prison. You have gravely harmed our citizens and Albania itself. /m.m/r.e/a.f/p.s./

Speaking to reporters, Balla stated that 60-day deadline to consult municipal councils on the territorial reform is coming to an end.

Balla reminded all municipalities that have not yet submitted a response that they have until September 29 to do so.

“Without doubt, the Parliament cannot vote before September 29; it cannot breach this deadline because it is a statutory one. Following September 29, the scheduled date is October 8, and I very much hope we will proceed to a vote then,” Balla said.

Balla emphasized that the remaining time is now limited. “We have been discussing this issue for at least a year straight. This is not the most far-reaching reform we could have undertaken; it is a partial one. There will be further reforms in the coming years. The transition from 61 municipalities to 46 is a step forward, and the citizens will be the beneficiaries of this reform, who will receive better services,” Balla said.

Balla stressed that the Socialist Party wishes for the reform to be approved by consensus, while noting that, “We did not have consensus back in 2014 either, with the same political opposition facing us.” /r.e/a.f/p.s./

Berisha said that the Democratic Party will respond to what he called the “unilateral boycott” of the reform by the socialist majority, while emphasizing that the opposition representatives have continued to participate in the public hearings and protests held within the framework of the process.

According to him, the representatives of the Democratic Party have held consultations with the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, as well as have held meetings with representatives of some embassies in Tirana.

We shall decide our next step today. We do not withdraw from the categorical rejection of Edi Rama’s reform. And we are using every space we can find to oppose it,” Berisha said.

Berisha reminded that they participated in the territorial reform because it was one of the two basic demands of the European Commission in its October report on Albania. /m.q/ /a.g/p.s./

In a statement to the media, Kedhi commented on yesterday’s meeting in Kuç between Prime Minister Edi Rama and local elected officials regarding the new territorial map.

Kedhi recalled that the Constitution of Albania stipulates that the borders of local government units cannot be changed without first consulting the opinion of the population residing in them.

“The European Charter of Local Self-Government requires prior consultation of communities on changing borders and consultation of local authorities, in due time, on issues that directly affect them”, he added.

According to him, “The Democratic Party has a completely different approach on the local government”.

“We want power and money in local hands, not controlled by one person. We support small towns and local services, not giant distant offices. Communities must choose for themselves and keep their unique way of life. Citizens across Albania share these values, and that is why they are protesting today”, he said. /m.m/j.p/r.e/p.s./

Mayor Mariglen Disha announced meetings in every municipal unit so citizens can review the draft, share feedback and help shape the municipality’s final position.

According to him, citizens will have the opportunity to get acquainted with the content of the draft law, as well as to present their opinions, proposals and suggestions regarding the administrative-territorial division.

“The opinions of the community will be taken into consideration by Librazhd Municipality during the drafting of the final stance on this process”, said Disha, while inviting citizens to participate in the meetings that will be held in the respective Municipal Units. /m.m/j.p/p.s./

This means a proposed second wave of local government restructuring aimed at reducing and merging municipalities, adjusting local financing and responding to demographic shifts.

Thus, the proposal carries downsize of the total number of municipalities from 61 to 46 by consolidating 28 existing local units into 13 new ones ahead of the 2027 local elections.

Under the new structure, there will be 46 municipalities (with 20 containing more than one city), 71 constituent cities, and 387 municipal units.

The SP emphasized that this is not the end of the process. It is the moment when the proposal is sent to where it should be discussed: in the municipalities and among the citizens.

According to the SP, the proposal that the ruling majority presented today remains a strong basis on which political agreement can be built.

The majority MPs once again invited the opposition to review this package with state responsibility and, in the fall, to support this reform together with the majority, not for one party or the other, but for Albania and for the generations that will live in its cities. /m.q/a.f/p.s./

“This isn’t an administrative reform; it is a policy of depopulation codified into law,” Zhupa wrote in the social media.

Zhupa added that downgrading municipalities is centralization in disguise. It strips away services, silences local communities and starves them of the investment they desperately need.

According to her, Delvina and Konispoli are not simply municipalities on the map, but are part of the identity, history and heritage of Albania.

“Therefore, we are against any plan to merge them as municipalities and unite them with the Municipality of Saranda,” she wrote. /m.q/j.p/p.s./

Co-Chair Arbjan Mazniku told local stakeholders that this is the ideal time to assess past results, improve local governance, and deliver better services to citizens.

Because some municipalities fail to fully exercise their legal responsibilities, significant regional development disparities exist. According to Mazniku, strengthening local governance is urgently required to prepare municipalities for the European integration process and the structural opportunities that EU accession will provide.

Mazniku emphasized that the 2027–2030 period must prepare municipalities to absorb EU funding, as the ongoing reform will drive the country’s long-term development. The Special Commission for Administrative-Territorial Reform will present its final package to the Assembly by the July 15 deadline. /m.m/j.p/p.s./

During the meeting of the commission today, Mazniku warned that if the reform does not advance at a good pace, it will be postponed until 2031.

“The ruling majority has systematically expressed its will to seize the opportunity of 2027. This requires us to complete the reform one year before the next elections. This means that July is a deadline dictated by the dates that are in force,” he added.

He mentioned the work on the ground, the discussion with experts and with all the people.

Mazniku emphasized that the commission’s work agenda has been built starting from the last week of July 2026.

“This is in accordance with the suggestions of the Venice Commission that the administrative reform should be implemented 1 year before the elections,” he added.

Mazniku also agreed with the co-chair of the commission, the Democratic Party MP Luciano Boçi to create a special reform portal, as a subpage of the Parliament’s website, where all parties can address the progress of the work on the reform, questions, requests, but also other elements related to the work of the special commission on territorial reform.

Finally, the work timeline should be approved with the request of the opposition and with a note, emphasizing that it is changeable at the request of the parties. After discussions, the timeline was approved with the votes of both the ruling majority and the opposition. /r.e/a.f/p.s./

According to Basha, “The World Bank has also noticed the total failure of the Territorial Reform. It has been a total failure with decentralization which, instead of bringing more powers to the municipalities in function of the citizens, has made them less transparent”.

He said that the municipality of Tirana has increased taxes on the citizens.

“The local government takes the taxes from the citizens and instead of returning them to the citizens, they make hotels with the money or deposit them in bank accounts. So, a pure mafia scheme,” he said.

The head of the DP asked the councilors to denounce corruption with the taxes of Albanians in the municipalities of the country.

“We courageously denounce everything that happens in the country’s municipalities in violation of the law. Everything related to the massive corruption, the taxes of the Albanians, the seizure of public and private property, the close cooperation with organized crime, the abuse of land, forests, pastures and of course, the total lack of services and investments in infrastructure”, said Basha.

Further on, Basha said that DP has two stages to pass ahead, the political program for the coming Parliamentary elections and the concept for local government./p.s./