TIRANA (Albania), January 14 (SeeNews) – Albania’s prime minister Edi Rama said on Monday he will take over the foreign affairs portfolio after president Ilir Meta refused to endorse both the dismissal of foreign minister Ditmir Bushati and the nomination of Gent Cakaj for the job.
The president has refused to approve the dismissal of Bushati within the constitutional timeframe, Rama said in a Twitter post.
On December 28, Rama announced a government reshuffle, seeking to replace seven cabinet ministers in response to a wave of student protest rallies and in an attempt to address inefficiency and corruption in the state administration. Rama added that the changes were necessary in order to secure a third term in office.
Bushati was to be replaced by Gent Cakaj, according to the proposed reshuffle. Last week, the president endorsed all of the proposed changes in Rama's government except Cakaj. The new foreign minister proposed by Rama does not meet the criteria, has no credibility and does not offer the necessary guarantees for fulfilling his duties objectively, Meta said in an open letter sent to Rama.
In his Twitter post Rama said that he will be in charge of the foreign affairs portfolio until Albania's Constitutional Court resolves the dispute between the president and the prime minister.
According to the list of changes in the cabinet led by Rama, energy minister Damian Gjiknuri will be replaced by Belinda Balluku, economy minister Arben Ahmetaj by Anila Denaj, education minister Lindita Nikolla by Besa Shahini, agriculture minister Niko Peleshi by Blendi Cuci, minister of state for entrepreneurship Sonila Qato by Eduard Shalsi and culture minister Mirela Kumbaro by Elva Margariti. Rama also said in December he would replace deputy prime minister Senida Mesi with Erion Brace and set up a new ministry in charge of relations with parliament, to be headed by Elisa Spiropali.
The proposed changes have to be endorsed by parliament to go into force.