PD proposes new territorial division: 100 municipalities and 12 counties

The Parliamentary Group of the Democratic Party has officially submitted today the draft law on the administrative-territorial division of local government units in the Republic of Albania. Following consultations held in all counties and the collection of citizens’ views, the DP proposes that Albania be organized into 100 municipalities and 12 counties.

The proposal is accompanied by a 168-page report, in which experts have examined the legal criteria related to the administrative and territorial division.

According to the Parliamentary Group of the Democratic Party, the reform should not be limited to a discussion about the number of municipalities, but should define the model of local government envisioned for Albania. In this context, the additional municipalities are not being proposed to create more positions, but to build local government that is closer to citizens, more democratic and more accountable, with better services, greater autonomy and stronger development.

According to the DP, the 12 counties are also not intended to increase bureaucracy. They are envisioned as structures that can support development, coordination, investment and the creation of new opportunities for the territory.

The Democratic Party emphasizes that the proposed map was not drawn to serve the administration of power, but citizens, communities and territorial development.

Based on the experts’ technical analysis, the experience of the 2014 Administrative-Territorial Reform, consultations with citizens and the need for a new model of local government, the DP Parliamentary Group proposes 100 municipalities and 12 counties, supported by genuine decentralization, financial autonomy, clearly defined powers, responsibility and accountability, local democracy and balanced territorial development.