Albania has a new government as of today, after the country's Prime Minister, Edi Rama, dismissed seven ministers, including his deputy and Minister of Infrastructure, Belinda Balluku, who is under investigation for corruption.
In addition to Balluku, the following were dismissed: Minister of Foreign Affairs Elisa Spiropali, Minister of Defence Pirro Vengu, Minister of Justice Besfort Lamallari, who was moved to the Ministry of the Interior, Minister of Economy Ervin Mete, Minister of Tourism and Environment Mirela Kumbaro, and Minister of Health Albana Tole.
In the new Albanian Government, Aljbana Koçi will take on the role of Deputy Prime Minister, and the following have also been appointed: Toni Gogu as Minister of Justice, Enea Karakaçi as Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Ferit Hoxha as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Blendi Gonxhe as Minister of Economy, Anila Denaj for Minister of Tourism and Environment, and Ogerta Manastirliu for Minister of Health.
The reshuffle comes amid increased pressure from the Special Prosecutor's Office (SPAK), allegations of corruption within the government, and ongoing protests by the opposition, led by the Democratic Party.
Rama has announced that the new government will be more effective in fighting corruption and accelerating Euro-integration, and the track records of the newly appointed ministers confirm this.
Albana Koçiu, who was previously Minister of the Interior and Minister of Health and Social Protection, has been appointed Deputy Prime Minister. As the former director of the Directorate for Public Administration, she led reforms to align administrative legislation with European Union standards, and as such is considered one of the key pro-European figures in the new cabinet.
Toni Gogu, a lawyer and long-standing member of the ruling party, was appointed Minister of Justice. He had previously held various administrative and parliamentary posts, including coordinating the government's relations with parliament. Gogu is part of the party majority that proclaims judicial reforms as a priority for accession to the EU.
The Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy has been taken over by Enea Karakaçi, who comes from administrative and professional circles with little prior public profile, but with a role in state bodies related to energy and infrastructure, according to local media. They report the public's expectations that he will continue the policy of investment in sectors important for European modernisation.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is headed by Ferit Hoxha, an experienced diplomat who has represented Albania on the international stage for decades, including serving as ambassador to the EU, the UN and other international institutions. Known for his work on multilateral cooperation and strengthening bilateral relations, he brings experience that fits with Albania's pro-European and pro-Atlantic foreign policy agenda.
Blendi Gonxhja, a long-standing member of the Socialist Party and a former deputy mayor of Tirana, as well as director of several urban development agencies, has become the minister responsible for tourism, culture and sport. Gonxhja is known for his involvement in student movements in the early 1990s and his work on modernising public services, but also as a person who works closely with Prime Minister Rama.
Also among the appointees is Anila Denaj, who has held ministerial posts in finance and the economy in previous terms and has been active in parliament as a Socialist Party MP. Her experience in economic reforms and cooperation with international financial institutions indicates a continuity of the Government's pro-European course.
Ogerta Manastirliu, a long-serving politician and former Minister of Health, has been reappointed as Minister of Health. She was once one of the most prominent figures in the field of public health and social policies. As a member of parliament and of the socialist majority, her orientation aligns with the party's strategic goals of European integration.
(EUpravo zato)