Prime Minister Rama announced yesterday during the General Assembly of the Socialist Party the names of his new cabinet, or, more precisely, his personal team, comprising ministers recycled from his previous government, members of the former communist nomenclatura, and former directors from the Municipality of Tirana.
The recycled
Except the fact that there are less ministries – from the 16 + 3 ministries of state in Rama 1 to 11 + 2 in Rama 2 – the most surprising fact about this new cabinet is the number of ministers recycled from Rama 1:
Former Minister of Finance Arben Ahmetaj, who holds a degree in English, will rule two of the most important ministries, dealing with economy and finance. His new ministry will also include a directorate formerly part of the Ministry of Social Welfare and Youth, dealing with labor.
Former Minister of Energy and Industry Damian Gjiknuri will also see his authority increase, as his new Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure will include the lucrative tenders related to large infrastructural projects.
Former Minister of Social Welfare and Youth Blendi Klosi‘s ministry has been completely dismantled, and he will lead the new Ministry of Environment and Tourism.
The other ministers that managed to survive Edi Rama’s “judgment” are Minister of Foreign Affairs Ditmir Bushati, who only a few days ago was publicly blamed by Rama for the lack of foreign direct investments; Minister of Education and Sports Lindita Nikolla, one of the most frequently attacked ministers of the last for years, takes another part of the former Ministry of Welfare and Youth, the Youth directorate; Minister of Culture Mirela Kumbaro, who surprisingly was able to save herself and her ministry after four years of total failure.
The (former) communists
Minister of Interior Affairs Fatmir Xhafaj stays on his post. He is former investigator and prosecutor under the communist regime and has been accused of torturing opponents of the dictatorship.
Another old figure of the Socialist Party, Pandeli Majko, will become the new Minister of State for Diaspora.
The former directors
Minister of State for the Protection of Enterprise Sonila Qato is a former director at the Municipality of Tirana when Prime Minister Rama was mayor. During Rama 1, Qato was director of the Agency for the Return and Compensation of Property.
Minister of Health and Social Care, Ogerta Manastirliu, is also a former director at the Municipality of Tirana and former director of the Mother Theresa Hospital.
The new ones
One of the two new faces in the government is Etilda Gjoni, the former Deputy Minister of Justice who will now become Minister of Justice. Gjoni will be overseeing the judicial reform and the vetting, which is expected to start officially next month.
The second is Senida Mesi, a deputy from Shkodra who will now become Deputy Prime Minister. Mesi has a background in the private sector, and has no political experience.
