TIRANA, Nov. 12 – A surprise resignation by Albania’s Justice Minister Nasip Naà§o and replacement within hours by Ylli Manjani – the deputy leader of Naà§o’s own SMI party — has sparked discussions over the stability of Prime Minister Edi Rama’s coalition and his relations with junior partner SMI leader Ilir Meta.
A statement from Rama’s press office Monday said he has accepted Naà§o’s resignation and proposed Manjani as a replacement for the formal approval of the president and parliament.
There was no official reason given for Naà§o’s resignation, which comes at a time when the justice reform is seen as fundamental for the country’s further progress in its bid to join the European Union.
In his resignation letter, Naà§o mentioned the justice reform but did not specify why he was leaving. Naà§o’s letter said he had resigned to clear a path for a better job to be done in the reform, which some see as being bogged down in a political tug of war.
Meta, the SMI leader and parliament speaker, visited Rama’s office after Naà§o resigned and was followed by Manjani, his deputy at the party.
Meta has long been asking for a government reshuffle, but Rama has said he wants to keep the current cabinet ministers place.
Still, analysts were perplexed at the resignation because it did not lead to immediate other changes in government.
The opposition Democratic Party said the resignation was part of internal friction in the governing coalition, and added that the best way forward would be for the entire government to resign so the country can head to early elections.
But Manjani said he will continue Naà§o’s work, indicating there was no problem or any failures for which his predecessor was to blame.
A veteran prosecutor and public servant, Naà§o has been one for the few Albanian cabinet ministers never to have come under accusation of corruption or wrongdoing, despite him being a key figure in the SMI, a kingmaker in Albanian politics in the last six years, but also beleaguered by allegations of corruption and vote-buying.
Albania is in the middle of a major justice reform with three drafts sent to the Council of Europe’s expert Venice Commission to review and offer recommendations before a final version is approved by the Albanian parliament.
EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn said Tuesday when making public the annual progress reports for the Balkans, including Albania, that without completing the justice reform, Tirana cannot open negotiations for membership.
It is a view also held by Albania’s Socialist-led government.
“The completion of the justice reform will launch an entirely new stage, creating the conditions to have reliable and qualitative investigation, fair judgments and deserved sentencing at all the levels and especially for the senior officials,” Prime Minister Rama said at a press conference relating to EU’s annual progress reform.
Manjani told reporters he would continue work on fighting graft.
“We are working to undertake very aggressive initiatives against corruption,” the new justice minister said.
