Minister of Justice Ylli Manjani Fired

In a letter sent to President Bujar Nishani today, Prime Minister Edi Rama announces that that he signed the dismissal of Minister of Justice Ylli Manjani, and has nominated current Socialist Movement for Integration (LSI) Deputy Petrit Vasili.

After a weekend full of rumors about his impending dismissal and tensions between the governing coalition of the Socialist Party (PS) and the LSI, former Minister Manjani stated: “I have not handed in my resignation! Such a thing has not crossed my mind! I don’t have any official notification that have been fired!”

Manjani’s dismissal directly follows upon the meeting this morning between Prime Minister and PS leader Edi Rama and Speaker of Parliament and LSI leader Ilir Meta. Manjani has been one of the most vocal critics of the Prime Minister and especially Minister of Interior Affairs Saimir Tahiri, especially in relation to the battle against organized crime and drug cultivation and trafficking.

Manjani is expected to give a press conference at 13:00.