Tension in Albania: Protests against municipal reform leave injured and arrested
A day of high tension was experienced this Thursday in Skopje during demonstrations against a controversial bill that seeks to reorganize the municipal structure of Albania. Clashes between protesters and law enforcement left ten people injured and one person detained following the use of pepper spray and tear gas by the police.
The situation escalated when the protesters attempted to tear down the perimeter security barriers around Parliament. In response to the pressure, the demonstrators threw flares and eggs at the officers, in addition to setting fire to trash containers and blocking strategic intersections in the vicinity of the government building.
Police deployment and origin of the conflict
Given the magnitude of the riots, the authorities deployed a massive operation that included the presence of some 1,500 rapid intervention agents to regain control of the area. The protests were called by supporters of the opposition Democratic Party of Albania and the civil movement Flamingo Revolution, the latter with a track record of 131 days of continuous mobilizations against the administration of Prime Minister Edi Rama.
The central point of contention is the Socialist Party’s proposal, which seeks to reduce the number of municipalities from 61 to 46. According to the ruling party, this merger of districts would allow for more efficient administration and optimization in the delivery of public services. Conversely, the opposition proposes expanding the territorial division to 100 municipalities and demands that the population be consulted through a referendum.
Prime Minister Edi Rama has been emphatic in his stance, warning lawmakers from his own party that any vote against the municipal reform will result in immediate expulsion from the political organization.
The landscape in Parliament
The approval of this reform requires a qualified majority of 84 votes, which represents 60% of the 140 parliamentary seats. Although the Socialist Party and its allies secured 86 seats in the 2025 elections, the internal situation is delicate:
- The Government has a slim majority because two socialist deputies have expressed their refusal to support the project.
- Despite internal dissent, the ruling party maintains the exact number of 84 votes needed to push the legislation forward.
- Political and social pressure continues to be the determining factor as the legislative debate unfolds.
