Sun | May 24, 2026

Albania's new socialist PM pledge to fight poverty

Published:Monday | September 16, 2013 | 12:00 AM
Albania's new socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama, speaks at Parliament promising to make his country less reliant on remittances from migrant workers by creating 300,000 jobs at home, on Wednesday, September 11. Rama formally presented his policies to Parliament, at the start of a debate that at the end would confirm nominations for his 20-member Cabinet, which would then be formally sworn in. - AP

TIRANA, (AP):

Albania's new Socialist prime minister has easily won approval for his government in parliament, pledging to fight poverty and unemployment and take the country closer to the European Union in the next four years.

Lawmakers voted 82-55 yesterday to approve the 20-member Cabinet. Edi Rama's Socialist-led leftist coalition won a landslide election victory in June, defeating conservative Prime Minister Sali Berisha on pledges of fighting widespread corruption and bringing the NATO member closer to its goal of joining the EU.

The 49-year-old Rama has promised to create 300,000 jobs at home and reduce poverty. A recent survey shows one in seven Albanians live on less than $2 per day.

Albania is one of Europe's poorest countries, with a minimum salary of 21,000 leks ($199) per month.