TIRANA (Albania), September 14 (SeeNews) – Albania’s Prime Minister Sali Berisha has replaced the ministers of economy and foreign affairs under a proposal of left-wing Socialist Integration Movement, a junior partner in the government coalition, the cabinet said.
Berisha has named the leader of the Socialist Integration Movement (LSI) Ilir Meta, as Economy, Trade and Energy Minister, replacing Dritan Prifti, also a LSI member, the government’s press office said in a statement on Monday.
Meta, who has so far served as foreign minister in the three-party coalition cabinet, will also take the post of deputy premier.
Berisha appointed Edmond Haxhinasto, also from LSI, as foreign minister. Haxhinasto has so far served as deputy minister of public affairs and transport.
The government reshuffle will be sent to President Bamir Topi for approval.
Albania’s one-year old coalition cabinet is dominated by Berisha’s Democratic Party, PD, which won half of the 140 seats in the unicameral parliament in the June 2009 elections.
Besides Berisha, 11 members of his cabinet are members of PD, LSI has three ministers and one ministry was allocated to the Republican Party, PR, member of the PD-led election coalition.