Prime Minister Rama reshuffled the government today. Speaking at the National Assembly of the ruling Socialist Party he announced the replacement of more than half of his cabinet – 7 of 13 ministers. Furthermore, Rama announced the appointment of a new Deputy Prime Minister and a Minister for Relations with Parliament.
At a quick glance, Rama’s new appointees at key ministries appear to be unfamiliar names to the general public, with very little or no political activity. They might be close to Rama personally, but with no political stature in the Socialist Party or in the Albanian political scene. Hence, this appears to be virtually the most personal and politically anonymous cabinet an Albanian Prime Minister with a majority in Parliament appointed in the last three decades.
Here is the cabinet reshuffling as announced by Prime Minister Rama:
– Ditmir Bushati, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, replaced by Gent Caka
– Arben Ahmetaj, Minister of Finance and Economy, replaced by Anila Demaj
– Lindita Nikolla, Minister of Education, Sports and Youth, replaced by Besa Shahini
– Damian Gjiknuri, Minister of Infrastructure and energy, replaced by Belinda Balluku
– Niko Peleshi, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, replaced by Blendi Çuçi
– Mirela Kumbaro, Minister of Culture, replaced by Elva Margariti
– Sonila Qato, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship, replaced by Eduard Shalsi
Two more additions to Rama’s cabinet are Elisa Spiropali, as Minister of State for Relations with Parliament, and Erion Braçe, as Deputy Prime Minister. Rama also warned Blendi Klosi, Minister of Tourism and Environment, to achieve positive results until June 2019 in order to avoid being sacked.
