Selmani on the government reshuffle: Without a strategy, public debt remains the main stumbling block

After the publication of the ministers’ names, the government is entering the final phase of its reshuffle. However, doubts have increased over whether this mid-mandate cabinet change will produce results, especially when it comes to resolving Albanian issues.

University professor Bashkim Selmani believes that without a clear strategy, the country is not expected to see significant changes, while stressing that the main challenge remains the high level of public debt.

“We are only seeing changes of individuals, but strategy, obsolescence, citizens’ public debts, and the economic crisis are factors that the government is neither removing nor easing. This makes it the basic problem with which any individual, any government that comes, or any minister, is not something from which we can expect any effectiveness as far as the state is concerned,” said university professor Bashkim Selmani.

Addressing also the transfer of the ministries of justice, culture and inter-community relations to VLEN, Selmani stressed that there is no concrete platform on how action should be taken.

“Albanians have not built a basic platform on which institutions have priority and what should be done. Therefore, I see it more as a personal reshuffle or one involving certain political entities. However, on the other hand, we have no measurement of results as to what we would change for citizens, because within two years we are seeing certain partisan changes of political entities, while on the other hand citizens’ obligations, rights and commitments are not being given comfort, and the institutions are not functional because each one of them has public debts,” said university professor Bashkim Selmani.

Meanwhile, the proposal for the reshuffled government cabinet is expected to be put to a vote in parliament by around the middle of the month.

Under the new division, VLEN will lead the Ministry for Political System and Inter-Community Relations with Agon Ferati. Until now, this post was held by Ivan Stoillkoviq, who will move to the position of minister of local self-government.

VLEN has also taken over the Ministry of Justice, which will be headed by professor Jeton Shasivari, while it has lost Social Policy. That portfolio has gone to VMRO-DPMNE and will be led by the current deputy minister, Gjoko Vellkovski.

VLEN has also been left without the health portfolio. In return, it has taken the Ministry of Culture, where Sedat Sulejmani will serve as minister.

There will be no changes to VLEN’s кадres in European Integration, Ecology and Economy, namely Bekim Sali, Muhamet Hoxha and Besar Durmishi. /tvm2