Albania parliament to vote on new Rama cabinet

Albania’s parliament was to vote late Thursday to approve the new, female-dominated cabinet of Prime Minister Edi Rama, with 12 of the 17 jobs going to women, making Albania a global leader in terms of the percentage of women in government positions.

As he mentioned during his speech to parliament, the new government would "enter history, not only in Albania, as the cabinet with the highest number of women."

Rama, who secured a record third consecutive term in April, has pledged to return the country to economic growth, focusing on tourism and agriculture.

Throughout his career he has included women in top positions, including during his tenures as Culture Minister, Mayor of the Albanian capital Tirana, and as Prime Minister, a position he has held since 2013.

Amongst his proposed appointments newcomer Delinda Ibrahimaj was picked to run the country's finance and economy portfolios and Frida Krifca the Agriculture Ministry.

Olta Xhacka would keep her post as Foreign Minister, as well as Culture Minister Elva Margariti and Education Minister Evis Kushi.

The new parliament speaker is also a woman, Lindita Nikolla, a former Education Minister.

Albania, with its population of 2.8 million, has been a NATO member since 2009 and hopes to launch full membership negotiations with the European Union later this year.

IMAGE: AP