Territorial reform: Divjakë residents oppose merger with Lushnjë, saying even basic services would require traveling dozens of kilometers

The Socialist Party’s proposal for administrative-territorial reform has sparked a backlash in Divjakë. Residents have spoken out against dissolving their municipality and placing it under the administration of Lushnjë Municipality.

According to residents, such a reorganization would make it more difficult to resolve everyday issues and access services. They argue that the distance from the proposed administrative center would create new obstacles.

One resident said he would have to travel 30 kilometers even for a minor concern. He stressed that simply seeking information from Lushnjë Municipality would require him to take the entire day off work, while resolving an issue would be even more difficult. In his view, local government should be brought closer to citizens, but not only is that not happening in this case, Divjakë is also being stripped of its municipality.

Other residents recalled that separation from Lushnjë had been sought for years and therefore oppose returning under the same administration. They said they had separated from Lushnjë with great difficulty and would not accept being merged with it again.

Residents said the distance has also created obstacles in accessing other services, including those provided by the justice system and central government institutions. For this reason, they believe another territorial reform could make it even more difficult for citizens to access public administration.

The draft territorial reform has also encountered opposition in several other municipalities. Local communities in those areas have called for the proposals for new administrative mergers to be reviewed.