TIRANA, Nov. 13 – On Monday, President Ilir Meta published the information he’d inquired from the ministry of defense concerning the active military status of the current deputy interior minister Sander Lleshi, which constitutionally disqualifies him from being appointed as minister of interior according to Meta.
In his request for information directed to the defense ministry, Meta has raised a number of questions concerning Lleshi’s military status, the clash between the MoI’s civil function and Lleshi’s long military career, the constitutional issue of appointing him as MoI and his conviction that an active military man cannot run or be appointed as lawmaker or minister without first resigning from duty.
In a letter sent to Meta, Lleshi clarified he no longer holds an active military status, but that he’d nevertheless give up his military career once and for all.
He said he cannot be considered an actively military member, as only those serving at the Armed Forces and wear uniform carry an active status.
Lleshi underlined that upon accepting the proposal to become interior minister he decided to give up military career, although the court’s decision has given the opportunity to both, and that with the request addressed to Meta he renounces the rights deriving from the appeal’s decision.
Lleshi was released from the post of Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army in 2013 by decree of then-President Bujar Nishani. He appealed to the courts, and the Administrative Appeal granted him the right in 2017, also approving his return to office and the Ministry of Defense’s duty to pay his salary until appointment day. Meanwhile, the case passed to the High Court, where it hasn’t yet received an official solution.
Meta’s questions focus precisely on this case and the positions held after the court decision by both the defense ministry and Lleshi himself.
Meta also said Prime Minister Edi Rama was aware of this constitutional issue, also when he proposed Lleshi as MoI for the second time on Saturday, and did not provide any explanations or information on the issue and every issue that may derive from it.
