“The new government embodies our vision of giving more responsibility to women, young people and civil society,” Rama told a press conference on Wednesday when he unveiled the names of the 19 ministers in his new cabinet.

Ninety per cent of them would be taking their first ministerial roles, he said - and for the first time in the country’s history, a woman, Mimi Kodheli, will become Albania’s minister of defence.

Among the five other women named as members of Rama’s cabinet, the appointment of Mierla Kumbaro, a prominent professor at the University of Tirana, as the new culture minister, was particularly well received.

Women will also head the ministries of European integration, urban development and tourism, education and sports, and innovation and public administration.

Rama’s Socialist-led alliance won a landslide victory in the June 23 parliamentary election.

His Socialist Party, PS, will hold 14 of the ministries while five ministries will go the junior government partner, the Socialist Movement for Integration, LSI.

The LSI will head the ministries of European integration, agriculture and rural development, justice, the environment and transportation and infrastructure.

The finance ministry will be headed by the former governor of Albania’s central bank, Shkelqim Cani, while activist turned politician Erion Veliaj will run the ministry of social welfare and youth.

The former head of the Albania’s parliamentary commission for EU integration, Ditimir Bushati, will serve as foreign minister affairs.

The current mayor of Korca, Niko Peleshi, will become deputy prime minister, where local elections will be held after the new government receives its mandate.

Albania’s New Government:

Prime Minister: Edi Rama (PS)

Deputy Prime Minister: Niko Peleshi (PS)

Ministries:

 1. Minister of Finance, Shkelqim Cani (PS)

2. Interior Minister, Samir Tahiri (PS)

3. Foreign Minister, Ditmir Bushati (PS)

 4. Minister of Defence, Mimi Kodheli (PS)

 5. Minister of Integration, Klajda Gjosha (LSI)

6. Minister of Justice, Nasip Naco (LSI)

 7. Transport and Infrastructure Minister, Edmond Haxhinasto (LSI)

 8. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Edmond Panariti (LSI)

 9. Minister of Urban Development and Tourism, Englantina Gjermeni (PS)

 10. Health Minister, Ilir Beqja (PS)

 11. Minister of Trade and Economic Development, Arben Ahmetaj (PS)

12. Minister of Energy and Industry, Damian Gjiknuri (PS)

 13. Minister of Education and Sports, Lindita Nikolli (PS)

14. Minister of Culture, Mirela Kumbaro (SP)

 15. Minister of Social Welfare and Youth, Erion Veliaj (PS)

 16. Minister of the Environment, Lefter Koka (LSI)

 17. Minister of Innovation and Administration, Milena Harito (PS)

18. Minister for Relations with Parliament, Ilirijan Celibashi (PS)

 19. Minister of Local Affairs, Bled Çuçi (PS)

Source: Balkan Insight