Albania’s PM Berisha Names New Cabinet

Berisha’s Democratic Party (PD), which won half of the 140 seats in the unicameral Albanian parliament in the June 28 elections, entered an alliance with left-wing Socialist Integration Movement (LSI) of Ilir Meta in July. The alliance has 74 seats in parliament.

Besides Berisha, 11 members of his new cabinet are members of PD, LSI has three ministers and one ministry goes to the Republican Party (PR), member of the PD-led election coalition.

"I will send the proposed cabinet list to President Bamir Topi," Berisha said in a statement late on Wednesday. Topi asked Berisha to form the new cabinet earlier the same day.

Parliament is expected to vote on the proposed cabinet later this month.

Ridvan Bode remains Finance Minister for a second term running, Sokol Olldashi will carry on as Transport and Telecommunication Minister and Majlinda Bregu remains European Integration Minister.

Bujar Nishani, who served as Internal Affairs Minister in Berisha's previous government, will become Justice Minister; Lulezim Basha, who was Foreign Affairs Minister, will be the new Internal Affairs Minister.

Genc Ruli, who was Economy, Trade and Energy Minister, will serve now as Agriculture Minister.

The new Ministry of State will be in charge of state administration affairs and the government's relations with parliament. The Minister of State Genc Polo was Deputy Prime Minister in Berisha's previous government.

Ilir Meta, who was Prime Minister from October 1999 until February 2002, split from the Socialist Party, the Democrats’ main political opponent, in 2004.

This will be Berisha's second consecutive four-year term of office as prime minister.

Albanian Cabinet: