The race to elect the new Director General of the State Police is entering its final phase and this Tuesday the candidates presented themselves for interviews at the Ministry of Interior, in a process that has been followed with particular interest by international partners.
The hearings were held behind closed doors and without the presence of the media. The commission leading the process is chaired by the Deputy Minister of Interior, Silva Caka, and also consists of the Secretary General of the Ministry and the Director of the AMP.
A total of 14 candidates were interviewed, who appeared in alphabetical order and presented their platforms for leading the State Police, while the commission members asked them questions about their priorities and vision.
The first to appear before the commission was the current director of the Durrës Police, followed by candidates Alfred Çepe and Arjanit Arapi. Also on the list was the current director of the Vlora Police, Elidon Çela, considered by many to be one of the potential candidates for the leadership of the police.
Other names in the running include Gentian Berberi, Gentjan Shehaj, Idajet Faskaj, Lorenc Panganika and Neritan Nallbati. One of the figures that is being watched with interest by international partners is Pëllumb Seferi, the director of the Department of International Relations.
The interviews continued with candidates Rebani Jaupi, Saimir Boshnjaku and Skënder Hitaj, while the last to give the interview was the former director of the Tirana Police, Tonin Vocaj.
The process was closely followed by representatives of ICITAP and EU4LEA, while during the interviews at the Ministry of Interior, representatives of the British Embassy were also present. In addition, the United States Chargé d'Affaires in Tirana, Nancy VanHorn, held a meeting with the Minister of Interior, Besfort Lamallari.
The interest of international partners in this process comes at a sensitive moment for the leadership of the State Police, following the departure of former director Ilir Proda, with whom there had been no official contact for months.
According to the procedure, within 48 hours the commission will evaluate the candidates with points and submit the list of the five most highly rated names to the Minister of the Interior. The minister will then propose the final candidate to the Council of Ministers for approval at a government meeting.
