New territorial map expected to be approved on October 8, majority in favor and DP opposed

While the Socialists consider the issue of magistrates’ salaries to have been resolved, another chapter will return for discussion on Monday.

According to information obtained by Top Channel, the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs will begin reviewing the new administrative-territorial division, using the proposal submitted by the Socialists as its basis.

The majority’s proposal was submitted to Parliament on July 31 to allow time for consultations with local government units. In recent weeks, Edi Rama also held meetings with citizens as part of this process.

The initiative is expected to take about three calendar weeks to move from the parliamentary committee to a plenary session. The vote is scheduled for Thursday, October 8, when the Socialists will once again face a test of unity within their parliamentary group.

Approval requires at least 84 votes, while the reduction in the number of municipalities from 61 to 46 has caused dissatisfaction among a considerable number of Socialists.

In the 15 municipalities that will lose their status as independent local self-government units and be merged with neighboring municipalities, left- and right-wing councilors joined forces in the municipal councils in an effort to block the new map, but their attempt was unsuccessful.

This is the second time that the Socialists, during Edi Rama’s time in government, have approved an administrative-territorial division of the country: the first was carried out in 2014 and the other in 2026.

What has not changed is the lack of consensus, as the opposition is calling for 100 local government units, while the Socialists are proposing 46.