Albanian Prime Minister reshuffles cabinet

On September 4, Albanian Prime Minister and leader of the ruling Socialist Party Edi Rama announced the biggest cabinet reshuffle of his term.

(09.05) Thủ tướng Albania Edi Rama đã tiến hành một đợt cải tổ nội các quy mô lớn. (Nguồn: ATA)

Albanian Prime Minister (pictured) Edi Rama has carried out a major cabinet reshuffle. (Source: ATA)

The change comes as the government faces a number of allegations of corruption and other wrongdoing.

One of the notable points in this reshuffle is the position of Foreign Minister. Accordingly, former Albanian Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna (Austria) Igli Hasani will replace Ms. Olta Xhaçka, who has held the position of Foreign Minister since 2021.

Ms Xhaçka is currently embroiled in a legal dispute over her husband's unclear interest in a tourist complex project on the southern Albanian coast.

Other changes in the cabinet include the appointment of Ervin Mete, Director of the Financial Supervision Authority, who served as Deputy Minister of Finance (2013-2017), as Minister of Finance, replacing Delina Ibrahimaj, who will be transferred to replace Edona Bilali as Minister of State for Corporate Affairs.

The Ministries of Education, Health and Agriculture also have new leaders amid recent allegations of corruption in the implementation of agricultural projects.

Prime Minister Rama also announced the merger of the Ministry of Standards and Services into the Ministry of Local Government, which will be headed by current Deputy Mayor of Tirana Arbjan Mazniku.

Mr Rama has been Prime Minister of Albania since 2013. He announced a cabinet reshuffle to realign the government's priorities with a focus on strengthening the judiciary and turning the country into a high-end tourist destination.

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