‘Centralisating Power’? Critics Question Albanian Plan to Redraw Municipal Map

Albania’s government plans to cut the number of municipalities from 61 to 46, but critics fear it will only further isolate rural communities from public services and undermine environmental protections. Erjon Zylyftari was outraged. “It’s an injustice and a great disgrace,” he declared at the end of July, as he resigned as local head of the ruling Socialist Party in a small town called Polican, southeastern Albania. His beef? A government plan to dissolve Polican Municipality and merge it with the larger municipality of Berat, part of a wider territorial reform that is proving highly divisive within the ruling Socialists. Subscribe to Balkan Insight Premium to read the full article. Please login to your account below if you are already a Premium Subscriber. Buy Premium Subscription Our Premium Service gives you full access to all content published on BalkanInsight.com, including analyses, investigations, comments, interviews and more. Choose your subscription today and get unparalleled in-depth coverage of the Southern and Eastern Europe. Buy Premium Subscription If you have trouble logging in or any other questions regarding you account, please contact us