Government reshuffle in the horizon?

TIRANA, Oct. 13 – The last government changes were made only last month, September. But they in fact did not involve the governing Democratic Party of Prime Minister Sali Berisha. They only involved their small leftist ally the Socialist Movement for Integration of Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Ilir Meta.
Well, there are many rumors now it is high time for Berisha to make some changes.
The opposition has directed its criticism on Integration Minister Majlinda Bregu and Agriculture Minister Genc Ruli. They are insisting they are corrupted and in close cooperation with the premier.
But Berisha has kept silent and not really liked to respond to the accusation made against his two cabinet members.
He did it differently when they dealt with Dritan Prifti, Meta’s predecessor at the post. He openly came out to say his appreciation on Prifti’s work and even made that after he was fired from his own party, Meta’s SMI, in a clear indication he would strongly support that person even not when in power.
Many would ask why Berisha is not doing that for his close partners, the two ministers he has chosen from his team for those posts?
Prifti said some interesting opinion Tuesday evening after he had left his LSI in a protest against Meta’s authoritarian rule at the party.
Prifti said that Berisha was afraid to make any move in his cabinet because he could remain without the required numbers to keep the government.
For the moment it seems that Berisha has 73 or 74 seats at the 140-seat parliament.
Two weeks ago one of his lawmakers left the group and said he would join the Socialsits. Days later an opposition Socialsit lawmaker left his group, though not declared he would join the Democrats.
Now it is Prifti, who said he would be independent but more affiliating with the opposition (though he also said he did not like Socialist leader Edi Rama).
That could really be the reason why Berisha is so reluctant in any government reshuffle. It is not easy to keep united the ranks of his 68 lawmakers if some among the elite of them are displeased.
But there are more and more rumors that Berisha would really like some changes ahead of the local elections next year, and they could come soon.
Or he could also play with the move of the ministers from one post to the other, in an exchange within the group. That has been the case with his predecessors and himself trying to give the impression of a push ahead of top moments.