March 5 (SeeNews) - Albania’s Prime Minister Sali Berisha dismissed late on Wednesday Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Ylli Pango over a media report accusing him of sexual harassment, the PM's office said.
“The incident shown in the media is ethically unacceptable […] Prime Minister Berisha decided to fire Pango,” the PM's office said in a statement.
Popular Albanian private TV broadcaster Top Channel showed on Wednesday a video recording of a man, who they claim was Pango, asking a woman applying for a job to strip. According to Top Channel, the incident occurred in Pango’s home.
Pango, 56, said in a statement the report was “pure media fabrication”.
Since 2005, when Berisha took over as prime minister from Fatos Nano, he has replaced 10 of his 14 ministers. The ministers who have remained unchanged in the past four years are Finance Minister Ridvan Bode, Economy, Trade and Energy Minister Genc Ruli, Environment Minister Lufter Xhuveli and Agricultural and Food Minister Jenim Gjana.
Albania will hold general elections on June 28.