Skopje, 14 February 2023 (MIA) – Izet Mexhiti, Deputy PM and DUI MP, has expressed skepticism around securing the necessary votes for Government reshuffle, saying that while the Government is securing 8 MPs from the Alliance for Albanians, more than 8 MPs are leaving the parliamentary majority.

“The PM’s statement that they have 64 MPs aims to keep the peace in the structure, but it says that they don’t have his number. This must be a political game that has nothing to do with unification for Europe, nor the increase of the majority or the stabilization from the minority, because 8 MPs can enter, but 8 are departing, and more departures have been announced,” Mexhiti told TV21.

He pointed out that DUI has lost 20% of its power with the government's reshuffle, pointing out that DUI made changes in the executive branch, breaking the party’s statute.

“Mr. Naser Nuredini, Minister of Environment, is being removed, without a majority decision, without considering the opinion of the General Council. The sector is being given to the former party branch president, Deputy Minister of Defence Bashkim Hasani. DUI has lost 20% of its power, breaking its statute. They’re already saying they have 64 MPs, but we’ll see how things work out,” Mexhiti said.

For the past two days, the MPs have been discussing the government reshuffle, which entails the entry of the Alliance for Albanians into the Government coalition. It has 8 MPs, and Alternativa and the Democratic Alliance are leaving. The dismissals of three ministers from Alternativa are also before the MPs: Bekim Sali for health, Admirim Aliti for information society and administration and Xhemail Cupi, minister without portfolio in charge of the diaspora.

PM Dimitar Kovachevski has proposed the following replacements: Krenar Loga for justice, Fatmir Mexhiti for health, Azir Aliu for information society and administration, the three from Alliance for Albanians, and Kaja Shukova from SDSM for environment and physical planning. dk/sk/