President of Albania | |
---|---|
Presidenti i Shqipërisë | |
Style | His Excellency (diplomatic) |
Type | Head of state |
Residence | Pallati Presidencial |
Seat | Presidenca, Tirana |
Appointer | Parliament |
Term length | Five years, renewable once |
Constituting instrument | Constitution |
Inaugural holder | Ramiz Alia |
Formation | 30 April 1991 |
Salary | L425,000 |
Website |
president |
The president of Albania ( Albanian: Presidenti i Shqipërisë), officially the president of the Republic of Albania ( Albanian: Presidenti i Republikës së Shqipërisë), is the head of state of Albania.
Following the Albanian independence on 28 November 1912, Ismail Qemali assumed the role of the inaugural head of government and the de facto head of state of Independent Albania. [1] On 22 January 1914, due to a convergence of political circumstances and external pressures, Qemali resigned from both roles. [2] During this interval, the Great Powers wielded significant influence in the selection of Prince Wilhelm as the subsequent head of state. [3] The incumbency of Wilhelm was short-lived, largely due to the impending outbreak of World War I, which prompted his resignation and departure from Albania on 3 September 1914. [4] A persistent pattern of political crises and internal turmoil continued to influence Albania's political landscape until 1920. [5] With the culmination of World War I, delegates from various Albanian regions convened at the Congress of Lushnjë on 28 January 1920. [6] At this assembly, they formed the Këshilli i Naltë i Regjencës, a collective institution consisting of four members representing the four major religions in Albania, assigned with the role of the head of state. [7] [8] [9] Then, on 31 January 1925, in the aftermath of the dissolution of the principality of Albania, the nation was proclaimed as a parliamentary pepublic. [10] [11] Within the Constitutional Assembly, its members proceeded to elect Ahmet Zogu as the inaugural president of Albania. The incumbency of Zogu extended until 1 September 1928, when he orchestrated the transition of Albania into a monarchy and ascended to the throne as King of Albania until 1939. However, the role of the president was then interrupted by the onset of World War II, marked by Italy's occupation until 1943, followed by Germany's occupation until 1944. Under the leadership of Enver Hoxha, the People's Assembly proclaimed the formation of the People's Republic of Albania in January 1946. [12] [13] During this period, the function of the head of state underwent a significant change and adapted into a collective institution referred to as the Chairman of the Presidium of the People's Assembly. [14] [15] [16] This position was first held by Omer Nishani from 12 January 1946 to 23 July 1953, followed by the incumbency of Haxhi Lleshi from 23 July 1953 to 22 November 1982, and concluded with the term of Ramiz Alia from 22 November 1982 to 30 April 1991. [17]
Responding to widespread protests after the collapse of communism in December 1990, the regime under the leadership of Ramiz Alia granted its approval for the first multi-party elections in March 1991. Alia represented the Party of Labour (PPSh) and secured the election while retaining as the president of Albania. Subsequently, facing particular opposition from the Democratic Party (PD), he failed to form a coalition government and garner international recognition, resulting in his resignation 3 April 1992.
No. | Portrait | Name | Term | Party [a] | Election | Ref. | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Start | End | Duration | |||||||
1 |
Ahmet Zogu (1895 – 1961) |
31 January 1925 |
1 September 1928 |
3 years, 7 months and 2 days | Conservative | 1925 | [19] | ||
2 |
Ramiz Alia (1925–2011) |
30 April 1991 |
3 April 1992 |
11 months and 5 days | Socialist | 1991 | [20] | ||
3 |
Sali Berisha (born 1944) |
9 April 1992 |
23 July 1997 |
5 years, 3 months and 15 days | Democrat | 1992 | [21] | ||
4 |
Rexhep Meidani (born 1944) |
24 July 1997 |
24 July 2002 |
5 years and 1 day | Socialist | 1997 | [22] | ||
5 |
Alfred Moisiu (born 1929) |
24 July 2002 |
24 July 2007 |
5 years and 1 day | None | 2002 | [23] | ||
6 |
Bamir Topi (born 1957) |
24 July 2007 |
24 July 2012 |
5 years and 1 day | 2007 | [24] | |||
7 |
Bujar Nishani (1966–2022) |
24 July 2012 |
24 July 2017 |
5 years and 1 day | 2012 | [25] | |||
8 |
Ilir Meta (born 1969) |
24 July 2017 |
24 July 2022 |
5 years and 1 day | 2017 | [26] | |||
9 |
Bajram Begaj (born 1967) |
24 July 2022 |
Incumbent | 1 year, 10 months and 8 days | 2022 | [27] |
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