TIRANA, March 5 /ATA- By Maela Marini/ – Albanian Parliament on Thursday approved a cabinet reshuffle proposed by Prime Minister Edi Rama, while opposition lawmakers blocked the speaker’s podium during the vote.
Lawmakers voted to dismiss several ministers, including Belinda Balluku as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Elisa Spiropali as Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, and Pirro Vengu as Defense Minister.
Parliament also approved the dismissal of Albana Koçiu as Interior Minister, Besfort Lamallari as Justice Minister and Toni Gogu as Minister of State for Relations with Parliament.
In subsequent votes, lawmakers appointed Koçiu as Deputy Prime Minister, Ferit Hoxha as Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Lamallari as Interior Minister, Ermal Nufi as Defence Minister, Gogu as Justice Minister and Enea Karakaçi as Minister of Infrastructure and Energy.
Erjona Ismaili was appointed Minister of State for Relations with Parliament.
The cabinet reshuffle was proposed by Rama, who also leads the ruling Socialist Party, during an expanded meeting of the party’s parliamentary group on Feb. 26.
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