"No to the merger with Berat": Dimal residents take to the streets

Opposition to the new Administrative-Territorial Reform draft continues to grow. This Friday, dozens of residents of the Municipality of Dimal took to the streets to protest the Socialist Party's proposal to merge their municipality with the Municipality of Berat.

The demonstration follows similar protests held in recent days in Përrenjas, Maliq, and Poliçan, where residents have voiced their dissatisfaction with the proposed changes to Albania's new administrative map.

According to footage published by Euronews Albania, protesters carried banners and expressed their opposition to the plan, arguing that a merger with Berat would not serve the interests of the local community and would undermine the representation of Dimal's residents.

The Territorial Reform 2.0 draft, submitted to Parliament by the Socialist Party, proposes dissolving the municipalities of Dimal and Poliçan and incorporating them into the Municipality of Berat. The proposal is part of a broader plan to reduce the number of municipalities in Albania from 61 to 46.

Meanwhile, opposition to the reform is growing in several cities across the country, with residents calling for the proposal to be reconsidered and for the unique characteristics, identity, and interests of local communities to be taken into account. The reform is expected to become one of the most debated issues in the coming months as the consultation process and parliamentary review continue.

“KORÇA BOOM”