TIRANA, Sep 14 – Albanian President Bamir Topi on Monday issued a decree on the list of ministers in the new governing cabinet.
That means that the parliament may now listen to Prime Minister Sali Berisha’s program for the next four years and then vote for the cabinet.
Last week Berisha made known the 15 names who are to be his new cabinet members following the conservatives’ re-election in June and then sent the list to the president.
Berisha, 64, said that, “Šthis government of European integration would give its contribution for a European Albania in line with our pledge.”
Berisha’s Democratic Party and allies control 70 seats in the 140-member parliament, while the Socialists and their allies have 66. The leftist LSI, with four seats, has agreed to join Berisha’s coalition.
Berisha named Meta as his deputy and also foreign minister. LSI will have the posts of the economy, energy and trade ministry with Dritan Prifti and that of the health ministry with Petrit Vasili.
The right-wing Republican leader, Fatmir Mediu, will be the environment minister.
Lulzim Basha, former foreign minister, will run the interior ministry. The defense ministry goes to Arben Imami, former Berisha’s counselor. The ministry of European integration stays with Majlinda Bregu and the finance ministry with Ridvan Bode. The same with the transport ministry with Sokol Olldashi.
The justice ministry will have Bujar Nishani, former interior minister. That of agriculture goes to Genc Ruli, former minister of economy.
The education and science ministry goes to Myqerem Tafaj, former Berisha counselor.
The labor ministry remains with a representative of the ethnic Greek minority, Spiro Ksera, this time under the Democrats’ political affiliation.
Ferdinand Xhaferri will run the tourism, culture, youth and sports ministry. Genc Pollo, former deputy premier, will be a state minister on reforms and relations with parliament.
The main opposition Socialist Party is boycotting parliament, claiming the June 28 general election was rigged by Berisha’s supporters.
That means that the new cabinet will be voted on by only those present.
