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The reformation of the government Rama/ DW: The SP is bursting with corruption scandals one after the other

2023-09-05 11:37:00, Politikë CNA

The reformation of the government Rama/ DW: The SP is bursting with corruption

Prime Minister Edi Rama

The changes in the Albanian government come when, in these first 2 years of the third governing mandate, the SP is bursting with corruption scandals one after the other. The Special Anti-Corruption Structure (SPAK) is investigating ministers, former ministers and high-ranking socialist officials, while a dozen of them are under arrest for corruption.

Former Deputy Prime Minister, Arben Ahmetaj, dismissed by Prime Minister Rama last year, escaped two months ago and is now wanted internationally. SPAK accuses him of abuse of office, money laundering and has an arrest warrant for him.

Prime Minister Rama said at the SP Assembly, which preceded the presentation on Monday of the reformation of the government, that "he will not defend any ruler who will face justice."

Who leaves and who joins the Rama government?

The Foreign Minister, Olta Xha?ka leaves the government cabinet of Prime Minister Rama. She has been part of the Rama governments as Minister of Social Welfare, Defense and Foreign Affairs. The opposition asks the Constitutional Court to remove the mandate of the MP since her husband, former Socialist MP Artan Gaçi, has been declared a strategic investor by the Rama government and has been allowed to build a tourist complex on the coast of Ion, in Dhërmi i Himara, on a piece of land bought by him, for which there is a lawsuit in SPAK for falsification of property documents. In place of Olta Xha?ka, Prime Minister Rama appoints Igli Hasani, former representative of Albania to the OSCE, 2018-2021, currently OSCE coordinator for Economy and Climate.

Another outgoing minister is that of Agriculture, Frida Krifca. In July of this year, the European Commission (EC) announced the temporary suspension of funding to support agriculture and rural development within the IPARD II Program. According to the EU delegation in Tirana, the suspension was based "on information from the European Anti-Fraud Office, following the investigation into allegations of corruption in the implementation of the IPARD II program." Socialist deputy Anila Denaj, Minister of Finance and Economy, 2018-2021, returns to the government in her place.

The Minister of Finance, Delina Ibrahimaj, is dismissed and takes the position of minister without the portfolio of entrepreneurship. In her place, Prime Minister Rama appoints Ervin Meten, former deputy minister in the Ministry of Finance, currently director of the Financial Supervision Authority.

Evis Kushi leaves the Ministry of Education and Sports. Ogerta Manastirliu, Minister of Health and Social Protection since 2017, is appointed in her place. Albana Ko?iu, director of the Department of Public Administration, is appointed Minister of Health. The Minister of State for Services and Standards, Milva Ekonomi, and the Minister of Education and Sports, Evis Kushi, are proposed for the secretariat of the SP.

Opposition: The Rama government cannot escape justice

PD President Lulzim Basha called SP after its reformation "brandished by SPAK for the affair of incinerators that does not escape justice with party gatherings" "Justice must continue its work for the investigation of the affair of incinerators, sterilization and any denunciation for state corruption in every link. Uninfluenced by governmental or political pressure from anyone. This is the only way to bring to justice the abusers of the assets of Albanians and their collaborators," Basha emphasized on Monday on social media. The reformation of the Rama government is expected to be approved by decree by President Bajram Begaj./ DW