Albania territorial reform sparks opposition debate in Law Commission

The Albanian Law Commission has begun debating a draft proposal for territorial reform, a move that has met strong opposition from Democratic Party (PD) deputies. The proposal, put forward by the Socialist Party, involves the merger of 15 municipalities across the country.

Opposition members, including Luciano Boçi, Tritan Shehu, and Eno Bozdo, have criticized the process, arguing that the draft lacks public consultation, technical studies, and consensus. They contend that the reform violates constitutional requirements and the law on local government, which mandate prior public opinion and community consultation.

Eno Bozdo specifically accused the majority of presenting a “false” bill that does not stem from the Territorial Reform Commission's actual work, claiming the commission's progress was abruptly halted. Opponents argue that the proposed mergers, such as those affecting Poliçan and Dimali, will harm local communities, degrade services, and undermine local democracy, drawing parallels to the 2015 territorial reform.