President Reshuffles Albania Government

President Sali Berisha dismissed eight Cabinet ministers Sunday and abolished seven ministries in the biggest government reshuffle since his Democratic Party of Albania came to power nearly three years ago.

The long-expected reshuffle was announced a month after Albanian voters rejected a government draft constitution in a referendum. The moves, announced by Albanian state television, were the third alteration to Prime Minister Alexander Meksi’s Cabinet since the Democrats won a landslide victory over what was then the Communist Party in parliamentary elections in March, 1992.

Eight ministers were dismissed, one resigned, seven ministries were abolished and four new ones were created in the reshuffle, state television reported. Berisha brought the governor of Albania’s Central Bank into the government as finance minister. His replacement at the bank was not announced.