Prime Minister Edi Rama has announced changes in his cabinet, just four months before the general election.
Former Defense Minister Olta Xhacka will be the new Minister of Foreign Affairs, practically replacing acting minister Gent Cakaj who resigned on Tuesday. However, Rama will have to resign himself as Albania’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs in order to leave the seat vacant for Xhacka.
Niko Peleshi will be the new Minister of Defense.
Rama made the announcement on Twitter;
“After an intensive period of work in the chairmanship of the OSCE as well as the great work with dedication and professionalism of Gent Cakaj as acting minister, this is the moment to jointly pass the baton to Olta Xhacka to perform the duty of Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs. Meanwhile, Niko Peleshi will head the Ministry of Defense.”
Peleshi was the Deputy Prime Minister in 2013, the Prefect of Korce, and the Mayor of Korce previously. Since 2019, he was an official deputy of the Socialist Party. He has a degree in Electronic Engineering, worked in the private business, including being the Head of the Korce Chamber of Commerce and Industry between 2001 and 2004.
Cakaj announced his resignation on Facebook, adding he will not run in the April 25 elections.
“I would like to inform you that today, Tuesday, December 29, 2020, I presented to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania, Mr Edi Rama, the irrevocable resignation and with immediate effect as acting Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania.
Following the successful completion of the OSCE chairmanship, the opening of EU accession negotiations, the extraordinary work to secure a seat on the Security Council for 2022-2023, the implementation of a series of unprecedented factor-raising measures Albanians in the Western Balkans, and since Albania is on the verge of an election campaign, where I do not intend to run as a candidate for MP, I consider that the chapter of my service at the head of Albanian diplomacy is over. “
