Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TIRANA151
2009-03-06 12:50:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tirana
Cable title:
RULING PARTY SHOWS SACKED MINISTER NO MERCY
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UNCLAS TIRANA 000151
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KJUS KDEM PREL PGOV AL
SUBJECT: RULING PARTY SHOWS SACKED MINISTER NO MERCY
UNCLAS TIRANA 000151
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KJUS KDEM PREL PGOV AL
SUBJECT: RULING PARTY SHOWS SACKED MINISTER NO MERCY
1. (SBU) Prime Minister Berisha on March 4 fired Minister
of Culture, Youth, Sports and Tourism Ylli Pango less than
one hour after a TV program broadcast video from a hidden
camera showing Pango requesting sexual favors from a job
applicant at Pango's Ministry. Pango's sacking marked a
quick and ignominious end to years of rumored sexual
misconduct on the part of Pango, first as a professor and
then as Minister of Culture. During a March 5 session of
Parliament, Speaker Jozephina Topalli urged the Parliament to
strip Pango of his immunity and expel him from Parliament.
Media coverage, including the pro-government press, has
excoriated Pango's outrageous personal behavior and blatant
abuse of office. Pango, for his part, has struck a defiant
tone, claiming during a live TV interview that the hidden
camera video shown on TV had been taken out of context, and
that the "provocative dress" of the young woman job seeker
"would have tempted anyone."
2. (SBU) COMMENT: With one sitting minister (FM Basha) about
to go on trial for abuse of office and a former minister
under indictment (former DefMin Mediu),Prime Minister
Berisha and Speaker Topalli cannot afford another scandal
involving a minister in the run-up to the June parliamentary
elections. Their ferocious response to the TV expose reveals
the degree to which Pango was disliked in many circles, but
also Berisha's election-year sensitivity to avoid yet another
scandal involving a high government official. The PM hopes
that his instant response on this occasion will prevent a
bleeding wound from hemorrhaging.
3. (SBU) COMMENT CONT'D: The reaction today in Tirana is
largely one of "he got what he deserved," as Pango has been a
notorious figure for years, first for extorting sexual favors
from students when he was a professor, then from job
applicants and others during his tenure as Minister of
Culture. But a larger, more important change may also be
taking place: it is increasingly evident that Albanians in
the media and the judiciary, as well as society at large, are
becoming less tolerant of misbehavior and corruption on the
part of government officials, with Pango becoming the third
minister in less than a year to become ensnared in a
high-profile scandal and investigation. Just two years ago,
the prosecution and downfall of even a deputy minister was
big news. Now it seems all too common.
WITHERS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KJUS KDEM PREL PGOV AL
SUBJECT: RULING PARTY SHOWS SACKED MINISTER NO MERCY
1. (SBU) Prime Minister Berisha on March 4 fired Minister
of Culture, Youth, Sports and Tourism Ylli Pango less than
one hour after a TV program broadcast video from a hidden
camera showing Pango requesting sexual favors from a job
applicant at Pango's Ministry. Pango's sacking marked a
quick and ignominious end to years of rumored sexual
misconduct on the part of Pango, first as a professor and
then as Minister of Culture. During a March 5 session of
Parliament, Speaker Jozephina Topalli urged the Parliament to
strip Pango of his immunity and expel him from Parliament.
Media coverage, including the pro-government press, has
excoriated Pango's outrageous personal behavior and blatant
abuse of office. Pango, for his part, has struck a defiant
tone, claiming during a live TV interview that the hidden
camera video shown on TV had been taken out of context, and
that the "provocative dress" of the young woman job seeker
"would have tempted anyone."
2. (SBU) COMMENT: With one sitting minister (FM Basha) about
to go on trial for abuse of office and a former minister
under indictment (former DefMin Mediu),Prime Minister
Berisha and Speaker Topalli cannot afford another scandal
involving a minister in the run-up to the June parliamentary
elections. Their ferocious response to the TV expose reveals
the degree to which Pango was disliked in many circles, but
also Berisha's election-year sensitivity to avoid yet another
scandal involving a high government official. The PM hopes
that his instant response on this occasion will prevent a
bleeding wound from hemorrhaging.
3. (SBU) COMMENT CONT'D: The reaction today in Tirana is
largely one of "he got what he deserved," as Pango has been a
notorious figure for years, first for extorting sexual favors
from students when he was a professor, then from job
applicants and others during his tenure as Minister of
Culture. But a larger, more important change may also be
taking place: it is increasingly evident that Albanians in
the media and the judiciary, as well as society at large, are
becoming less tolerant of misbehavior and corruption on the
part of government officials, with Pango becoming the third
minister in less than a year to become ensnared in a
high-profile scandal and investigation. Just two years ago,
the prosecution and downfall of even a deputy minister was
big news. Now it seems all too common.
WITHERS