[ALBSA-Info] {QIKSH «ALBEUROPA»} Albanian Prime Minister Reshuffles Cabinet

[Nikoll A Mirakaj]

Albanian Prime Minister Reshuffles Cabinet 

TIRANA, Nov 9, 2000 -- (Reuters) Albanian Prime Minister Ilir Meta announced a minor cabinet reshuffle on Wednesday in a bid to strengthen his Socialist-led coalition before next spring's general election.

The reshuffle is the third since Meta, at 31 Europe's youngest Prime Minister, took office last October.

Public Works Minister Ilir Zela was sacked and will be replaced by Public Order Minister Spartak Poci. The new public order minister will be Ilir Gjoni, who was defense minister until now, and Gjoni will be replaced by Ismail Lleshi.

"The Prime Minister took this decision to increase the efficiency of the government's work in important sectors," a government spokesman told Reuters.

Meta's Socialists were the main winners of local elections in October, Albania's first electoral test since 1997 when the Democrats of former President Sali Berisha were ousted after a popular revolt caused by the collapse of fraudulent pyramid investment schemes.

(C)2000 Copyright Reuters Limited. 

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