The race for the position of Director General of the State Police appears to have entered its final phase. The three names leading the list are Tonin Vocaj, Lorenc Panganika and Skënder Hitaj, who were ranked first in the selection process.
According to reports, the list of three main candidates has been sent to Prime Minister Edi Rama by Interior Minister Besfort Lamallari. The final decision is now in the hands of the head of government, who will choose which of them will take over the leadership of the State Police.
The decision is expected to be made within the week, ending a race in which a total of 14 candidates participated for the leadership of the highest ranking institution in the country.
According to police specialists, all three names are considered figures with professional integrity and experience in law enforcement structures, so the competition between them is seen as strong. But whoever is chosen to lead the State Police will face a difficult challenge.
After the departure of Ilir Proda, the new director will have to face one of the most difficult tasks: cleansing the police ranks from criminal networks that, according to critics, had penetrated many segments of the law enforcement structures during the previous leadership.
The ball is now on Prime Minister Rama's table, who will decide among three names who will take over the leadership of the State Police at a sensitive moment for security and order in the country.
