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A brief history of the institution of the President of the
Republic
Since the
making of the Albanian State, on November 28, 1912, Albania
has witnessed different governing models, including the
international protectorate, the monarchy, the regime of the
party-state, as well as the parliamentary republic. During
this period, the function of the President of the Republic and
the Head of State has been exercised in different ways.
The first
government was created in 1912, headed by Ismail Qemali, who
also had the powers of the Head of State. On February 6, 1914,
the Conference of Ambassadors appointed Prince Wilhelm Wied as
the Head of the Albanian State. During September 1914 -
January 1920 Albania became a battlefield by changing several
governments, where the duty of the Head of State was covered
by different regency-governments. On January 8, 1920, the
Congress of Lushnja elected the High Council composed of 4
people, a body which performed the functions of the Head of
State, by bringing parliamentarism back. In 1924, Fan Noli was
elected Head of the Government, exercising also the functions
of the Head of State. Following the frequent government
reshuffles, on January 31, 1925, the National Assembly
approved the republican form of regime and voted Ahmet Zogu as
the President of Albania. On September 1, 1928, Albania was
proclaimed Monarchy and Ahmet Zogu the Monarch of Albanians.
After the occupation of Albania by Italy in April 1939, and
the unification of the two countries, Victor Emanuel III
became the King of Albania. The years 1943 – 1944 under the
German occupation, brought back the regency-governance.
The end of
the World War II and the liberation of Albania in 1944 were
associated with the first parliamentary elections of December
1945 and with the transference of the function of the Head of
State to a collegial body, like the Presidium of the Popular
Assembly. During January 11, 1946 – December 12, 1990, during
which Albania experienced the communist dictatorship, the
functions of the Head of State were performed by Omer Nishani
(January 10, 1946 – August 1, 1953), Haxhi Lleshi (August 1,
1953 – November 22, 1982) and Ramiz Alia (November 22, 1982 –
February 22, 1991). On February 22, 1991, the Presidential
Council was established, governed by Ramiz Alia who exercised
these functions until April 30, 1991.
On April 30,
1991, along with the election of the first President of the
Parliamentary Republic from a multiparty parliament, the
constitutional institution of the President of the Republic is
created. Since that date and on the Presidents and the time
spans of their tenure are as below follows:
April 30,
1991:
The
Parliament elects President of the Republic, Mr.
Ramiz Alia
April 9,
1992:
The
Parliament elects President of the Republic, Mr.
Sali Berisha
March 3,
1997:
The
Parliament re-elects President of the Republic, Mr.
Sali Berisha
July 24,
1997:
The
Parliament elects President of the Republic, Mr.
Rexhep Meidani
July 24,
2002:
The
Parliament elects President of the Republic, Mr.
Alfred Moisiu
July 24,
2007:
The
Parliament elects President of the Republic, Mr.
Bamir Topi |
