Dismissing "parasites" in the public administration will be the priority of the Socialist-led government during its second mandate, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has said, local media reported on July 19.
Albania is implementing reforms in the public administration, supported by the European Union, alongside the judicial reforms needed for the country to move closer to EU accession talks.
“The fight against those who abuse the public office known as ‘parasites’ will be among the priorities of the new government,” Rama was cited by Albanian Daily News.
Rama recently published a blacklist of 100 people that he considers should not be part of the public administration or the judicial system, but was criticised by some legal experts for the move.
Earlier in July the EU ambassador in Albania, Romana Vlahutin, said that one of the most difficult reforms in any transitional country is reform of the public administration
This is not only because of lack of consistent capacity, nepotism and corruption, but also because of lack of investment in people and talents as well as lower salaries than in the competitive private sector, Vlahutin said.
In the June 25 election, the Socialist Party won 74 seats in the 140-seat parliament, enough to rule alone for the next four years. The composition of the Socialists' new cabinet is expected to be announced soon.
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