President’s central bank governor nomination faces hostile parliament

President Nishani has nominated Gent Sejko to be the Albanian central bank’s new governor, but the Socialist-led majority in parliament has indicated it won’t approve the proposal.
TIRANA, Dec. 11 – Albanian President Bujar Nishani has proposed to parliament that Gent Sejko, the deputy general manager of Societe Generale Albania bank, be the country’s new central bank governor.
Nishani selected Sejko among 42 applicants due to his “two decades of managerial experience, professional know-how and moral integrity,” the president’s office said in a statement.
Sejko, who has worked at the central bank’s auditing department and for Deloitte&Touche, among other jobs in commercial banks, is to replace Ardian Fullani if approved by the parliament.
Fullani was sacked in September for negligence after an employee stole millions of dollars from the central bank.
The new governor’s name has been an issue of contest between the majority Socialists of Prime Minister Edi Rama and the president.
Rama has often met Nishani to discuss the issue, but it appears Sejko was not a consensual candidate.
Some Socialist lawmakers said Nishani has not respected the normal requirements and not coordinated the nomination with them.
Erion Brace, a leading Socialist member of parliament, has been the most vocal about his displeasure with the nomination.
“The issue is rather important and should be solved with calmness and understanding between the institutions. Acting on individual willingness does not serve to anyone,” he said, indicating Nishani had acted unilaterally.
Parliamentary Speaker Ilir Meta said in an interview with a local television station that “the most important thing is that the issue of the governor finds a fast, consensual solution that strengthens the independence of this in institution.”
Parliament will first have to complete the bank’s supervisory board with the members, and then elect the new governor from one of those members, based on Albanian law.
It is very likely the parliament, dominated from the Socialist-led leftist coalition, may turn down Sejko, analysts said.
Rama had also hinted earlier this year a foreigner could be better for the post. Last week the Socialist lawmakers have sent a request to the parliament for a law amendment allowing foreigners serve for the bank’s top post.