Albanian government undergoes significant cabinet reshuffle

As Albanian parliament convened after the summer break, Prime Minister Edi Rama announced a big shakeup with five ministers leaving, seven new appointments, the dissolution of one ministry and the creation of another in one of the largest reshuffles since the Socialist Party (PS) took power in 2013.

Foreign Minister Olta Xhacka, Agriculture Minister Frida Krifca, Education Minister Evis Kushi, Minister of State for Entrepreneurs Edona Bilali, and Minister of State for Standards and Services Milva Ekonomi will no longer be part of the government. Meanwhile, two serving ministers, Health Minister Ogerta Manistirliu and Finance Minister Delina Ibrahimaj, have been transferred into different positions.

In a 90-minute speech at the Socialist Party Assembly, Rama emphasised the importance of institutions in the fight against corruption at all levels of local and central government and called on ministers to be honest.

“Do you work honestly, professionally, with dedication. Do not trick the state. Do not trick people…Do not fall into the trap of getting rich off the sweat of others. It is haram that never becomes halal,” he told assembled ministers and party members.

In a surprise move, Xhacka has been replaced by Igli Hasani, and so far, she has not been given another position.

Xhacka has been subject to legal challenges from the opposition, who demanded her removal after journalists revealed her husband was declared a ‘strategic investor’ and benefitted from lucrative public property in the south of Albania that was used for private luxury development.

Hasani previously held several high-level positions within the OSCE and chairman of the Group of Asian Partners for Cooperation. He has also worked as the Defence Minister for 17 years, including secretary general, director general for defence, director of NATO and relations abroad, and director of Euro-Atlantic integrations.

Ogerta Manastirliu, a doctor and health minister throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, was replaced by Albana Kociu. The new minister comes from her post as director of the department of public administration, which she has held since 2013. She comes from a human resources and administration background rather than health.

Manastirliu’s ministry was the centre of a recent scandal whereby her former deputy Klodian Rjepaj was arrested, and businessman and former minister of health Ilir Beqaj was questioned over corruption related to a concession for the sterilisation of state hospitals. While not implicated in the case, she has now been appointed as the minister of Education and Sports, replacing Evis Kushi just one week before state schools start the academic year.

Kushi has been proposed as secretary of women within the Socialist Party, a non-governmental position.

Finance Minister Delina Ibrahimaj has been moved to the State Ministry for Entrepreneurship and Business Climate, replacing Edona Bilali, while Ervin Mete has been appointed. The Entrepreneurship Ministry is smaller and without a portfolio.

Mete previously held the position of General Executive Director of the Financial Supervision Authority and is a negotiator with the European Union on Chapter 9 ‘Financial Services’. He has previously held the position of deputy minister of finance and deputy minister of the economy.

MP and previous finance minister Anila Denaj moved into the Ministry of Agriculture, replacing Frida Krifca. The change comes after the European Commission suspended EU funding to Albania under the IPARD scheme, pending the outcome of an investigation into fraud and irregularities in the disbursement of funds.

In addition, the Ministry for Standards and Services, previously headed by career politician Milva Ekonomi, has been wound up, and the Ministry of Local Government, without portfolio, to be headed by Deputy Mayor of Tirana Arbian Mazniku was created to strengthen cooperation between central and local government.

“Considering that the work on social standards has been put to bed and the last local elections and challenges of local government stand out to us, the need for real-time coordination between local and central governments is apparent. We will no longer have a minister for service standards. We will have a minister of state for local government,” said Rama.

Ekonomi has been proposed as secretary of the programme within the PS.

Rama asked party members to approve the new structure so the party could present its action plans and platforms for all levels of government at the extraordinary congress at the start of October.

The recent ministerial shuffle comes after Interior Minister Bledi Cuci and leader of the PS parliamentary group Taulant Balla switched positions.

While not going into specifics on the reasons behind all the changes, Rama said the party he leads is facing a difficult test – that of facing justice – that he will pass “alive or dead”.

(Alice Taylor | EURACTIV.com)