Prime Minister of Albania

Prime Minister of Albania
Prime Minister of Albania
Kryeministri i Shqipërisë
	Incumbent; Edi Rama; since 15 September 2013
Style	His Excellency (diplomatic)
Member of	Council of Ministers
Residence	Kryeministria
Appointer	President
Formation	29 November 1912; 109 years ago
First holder	Ismail Qemali
Website	Official Page

The Prime Minister of Albania (Albanian: Kryeministri i Shqipërisë), officially styled Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania (Albanian: Kryeministri i Republikës së Shqipërisë), is the head of government of the Republic of Albania and the most powerful and influential person in Albanian politics. The prime minister holds the executive power of the nation and represents the Council of Ministers and chairs its meetings.

The prime minister is appointed by the president of Albania after each general election and must have the confidence of the Parliament of Albania to stay in office. The Council is responsible for carrying out both foreign and domestic policies. It directs and controls the activities of the ministries and other state organs. The prime minister is elected on the basis of universal suffrage, through a secret ballot, for a four-year term. The Constitution of Albania sets no limit as to office terms of the prime minister.

The 33rd and current officeholder is Edi Rama of the Socialist Party who was elected on 23 June 2013 and started his first four-year-term on 15 September 2013.

Powers, duties and responsibilities[]

The prime minister of the Albania, officially styled Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania, is the most powerful and influential state officeholder in the Albanian system of government.

One important role of the president is to designate a candidate for the office of prime minister who, in the opinion of the president, is best able to command a majority of the members of the Parliament.^[1] As head of government, the prime minister is charged with directing the internal policy of the country and leads the public administration. In this regard, the government cooperates with other interested social actors. If the prime minister is temporarily absent or incapable of exercising its executive power, the deputy prime minister takes over his functions, such as chairing the cabinet and the council of ministers.

The Constitution states that the prime minister represents the council of ministers and chairs its meetings,^[2] outlines and presents the principal general policies of the state and is responsible for them, assures the implementation of legislation and policies approved by the Council of Ministers, coordinates and supervises the work of the members of the Council of Ministers and other institutions of the central state administration, performs other duties contemplated in the Constitution and laws, resolves disagreements among ministers, and issues orders in the exercise of his powers.^[3] The prime minister can also initiate a proceeding of the Constitutional Court of Albania.^[4]

Oath[]

Before assuming duty, the prime minister-elect is required to take an oath of office before the President, swearing loyalty to the Constitution. The text of the oath in its Albanian form is sensitive to gender and all nouns always retain a neutral form. The prime minister-elect takes the following oath of office, specified by the Constitution:^[5]^[6]

Albanian: Betohem se do t’i bindem Kushtetutës dhe ligjeve të vendit, do të respektoj të drejtat dhe liritë e shtetasve, do të mbroj pavarësinë e Republikës së Shqipërisë dhe do t’i shërbej interesit të përgjithshëm dhe përparimit të Popullit Shqiptar. The President may add: Zoti më ndihmoftë!
English:
I swear that I will obey to the Constitution and laws of the country, that I will respect the rights and freedoms of citizens, protect the independence of the Republic of Albania, and I will serve the general interest and the progress of the Albanian People. The President may add: So help me God!

Office and residence[]

The facade of the Kryeministria.

The Prime Minister's Office (Albanian: Kryeministria) is the official office and residence of the prime minister. It provides secretarial assistance to the prime minister. The prime minister through his office coordinates with all ministers in the central union cabinet, minister of independent charges and governors and ministers of state government. Furthermore informal meetings between the prime minister and other government or foreign officials takes place in the Office. It also consists of the immediate staff of the prime minister of Albania, as well as multiple levels of support staff reporting to the prime minister. Since 1941, the building serves as the office and residence of the prime minister. The building is in the capital city of Tirana at the Dëshmorët e Kombit Boulevard, near the Mother Teresa Square.

The building was planned by the Italian architects Florestano Di Fausto and Gherardo Bosio, and constructed together with the Dëshmorët e Kombit Boulevard, the Mother Teresa Square and all the buildings located on these squares, during the Italian occupation of Albania in 1939 to 1941, in a Rationalist style.

List of prime ministers (1912–present)[]

No.	Name	Term in office		Government
Albania (1912–1914)^[7]
1st	Ismail Qemali (1844–1919)	4 December 1912	22 January 1914	Provisional Government
1st	Ismail Qemali (1844–1919)	1 year, 1 month and 18 days		Provisional Government
International Control Commission (22 January 1914 – 7 March 1914)
Principality of Albania (1914–1925)
2nd	Turhan Pasha Përmeti (1846–1927)	14 March 1914	3 September 1914	Përmeti Governments (I and II)
2nd	Turhan Pasha Përmeti (1846–1927)	5 months and 20 days		Përmeti Governments (I and II)
3rd	Esad Toptani (1863–1920)	5 October 1914	27 January 1916	Toptani Government
3rd	Esad Toptani (1863–1920)	1 year, 3 months and 22 days		Toptani Government
Austro-Hungarian Command (23 January 1916 – 30 October 1918)
—	Turhan Pasha Përmeti (1846–1927)	25 December 1918	29 January 1920	Përmeti III Government
—	Turhan Pasha Përmeti (1846–1927)	1 year, 1 month and 4 days		Përmeti III Government
4th	Sulejman Delvina (1884–1933)	30 January 1920	14 November 1920	Delvina Government
4th	Sulejman Delvina (1884–1933)	9 months and 15 days		Delvina Government
5th	Ilias Vrioni (1882–1932)	15 November 1920	16 October 1921	Vrioni Governments ( and )
5th	Ilias Vrioni (1882–1932)	11 months and 1 day		Vrioni Governments ( and )
6th	Pandeli Evangjeli (1859–1949)	16 October 1921	6 December 1921
6th	Pandeli Evangjeli (1859–1949)	1 month and 20 days
7th	Qazim Koculi Acting Prime Minister (1887–1943)	6 December 1921	6 December 1921
7th	Qazim Koculi Acting Prime Minister (1887–1943)	0 days
8th	Hasan Prishtina (1873–1933)	7 December 1921	12 December 1921
8th	Hasan Prishtina (1873–1933)	5 days
9th	Idhomen Kosturi Acting Prime Minister (1873–1943)	12 December 1921	24 December 1921
9th	Idhomen Kosturi Acting Prime Minister (1873–1943)	12 days
10th	Xhafer Ypi (1880–1940)	24 December 1921	2 December 1922
10th	Xhafer Ypi (1880–1940)	11 months and 8 days
11th	Ahmet Zogu (1895–1961)	2 December 1922	25 February 1924
11th	Ahmet Zogu (1895–1961)	1 year, 2 months and 23 days
12th	Shefqet Vërlaci (1877–1946)	3 March 1924	27 May 1924
12th	Shefqet Vërlaci (1877–1946)	2 months and 24 days
—	Ilias Vrioni (1882–1932)	30 May 1924	10 June 1924
—	Ilias Vrioni (1882–1932)	11 days
13th	Fan Noli (1882–1965)	16 June 1924	24 December 1924
13th	Fan Noli (1882–1965)	6 months and 8 days
—	Ahmet Zogu (1895–1961)	6 January 1925	31 January 1925
—	Ahmet Zogu (1895–1961)	8 months and 17 days
During the period of the Republic, the role of the prime minister was exersised by the Minister of Justice. (1 February 1925 – 1 September 1928)
Albanian Kingdom (1928–1939)
14th	Kostaq Kotta (1886–1947)	5 September 1928	5 March 1930
14th	Kostaq Kotta (1886–1947)	1 year and 6 months
—	Pandeli Evangjeli (1859–1949)	6 March 1930	16 October 1935	Evangjeli Governments (, and )
—	Pandeli Evangjeli (1859–1949)	5 years, 7 months and 10 days		Evangjeli Governments (, and )
15th	Mehdi Frashëri (1872–1963)	21 October 1935	7 November 1936
15th	Mehdi Frashëri (1872–1963)	1 year and 17 days
—	Kostaq Kotta (1886–1947)	9 November 1936	7 April 1939
—	Kostaq Kotta (1886–1947)	2 years, 4 months and 29 days
Interim Administrative Committee (8 April 1939 – 12 April 1939)
Italian Occupation (1939–1943)
—	Shefqet Vërlaci (1877–1946)	12 April 1939	3 December 1941
—	Shefqet Vërlaci (1877–1946)	2 years, 7 months and 21 days
16th	Mustafa Merlika-Kruja (1887–1958)	3 December 1941	4 January 1943
16th	Mustafa Merlika-Kruja (1887–1958)	1 year, 1 month and 1 day
17th	Ekrem Libohova (1882–1948)	18 January 1943	11 February 1943
17th	Ekrem Libohova (1882–1948)	24 days
18th	Maliq Bushati (1880–1946)	12 February 1943	28 April 1943
18th	Maliq Bushati (1880–1946)	2 months and 16 days
—	Ekrem Libohova (1882–1948)	11 May 1943	12 September 1943
—	Ekrem Libohova (1882–1948)	4 months and 1 day
German Occupation (1943–1944)
Interim Executive Committee (14 September 1943 – 4 November 1943)
19th	Rexhep Mitrovica (1887–1967)	5 November 1943	16 June 1944
19th	Rexhep Mitrovica (1887–1967)	7 months and 11 days
20th	Fiqri Dine (1897–1960)	18 July 1944	28 August 1944^[8]
20th	Fiqri Dine (1897–1960)	1 month and 10 days
21st	Ibrahim Biçaku (1905–1977)	6 September 1944	25 October 1944
21st	Ibrahim Biçaku (1905–1977)	1 month and 19 days
People's Socialist Republic of Albania (1944–1991)
22nd	Enver Hoxha (1908–1985)	23 October 1944	19 July 1954	Hoxha Governments (I, and )
22nd	Enver Hoxha (1908–1985)	9 years, 8 months and 26 days		Hoxha Governments (I, and )
23rd	Mehmet Shehu (1913–1981)	20 July 1954	26 April 1980	Shehu Governments (, , , , , and )
23rd	Mehmet Shehu (1913–1981)	27 years, 4 months and 28 days		Shehu Governments (, , , , , and )
24th	Adil Çarçani (1922–1997)	15 January 1982	21 February 1991	Çarçani Governments (, and )
24th	Adil Çarçani (1922–1997)	9 years, 1 month and 6 days		Çarçani Governments (, and )
Republic of Albania (1991–present)
25th	Fatos Nano (born 1952)	22 February 1991	4 June 1991	Nano Governments (I and II)
25th	Fatos Nano (born 1952)	3 months and 13 days		Nano Governments (I and II)
26th	Ylli Bufi (born 1948)	11 June 1991	6 December 1991
26th	Ylli Bufi (born 1948)	5 months and 25 days
27th	Vilson Ahmeti (born 1951)	18 December 1991	13 April 1992
27th	Vilson Ahmeti (born 1951)	3 months and 26 days
28th	Aleksandër Meksi (born 1939)	13 April 1992	1 March 1997	Meksi Governments (I and )
28th	Aleksandër Meksi (born 1939)	4 years, 10 months and 16 days		Meksi Governments (I and )
29th	Bashkim Fino (1962–2021)	11 March 1997	24 July 1997	Fino Government
29th	Bashkim Fino (1962–2021)	4 months and 13 days		Fino Government
—	Fatos Nano (born 1952)	25 July 1997	28 September 1998
—	Fatos Nano (born 1952)	1 year, 2 months and 3 days
30th	Pandeli Majko (born 1967)	2 October 1998	25 October 1999
30th	Pandeli Majko (born 1967)	1 year and 23 days
31st	Ilir Meta (born 1969)	28 October 1999	29 January 2002	Meta Governments ( and II)
31st	Ilir Meta (born 1969)	2 years, 3 months and 1 day		Meta Governments ( and II)
—	Pandeli Majko (born 1967)	22 February 2002	25 July 2002	Majko II Government
—	Pandeli Majko (born 1967)	5 months and 3 days		Majko II Government
—	Fatos Nano (born 1952)	29 July 2002	10 September 2005
—	Fatos Nano (born 1952)	3 years, 1 month and 12 days
32nd	Sali Berisha (born 1944)	10 September 2005	13 September 2013	Berisha Governments (I and II)
32nd	Sali Berisha (born 1944)	8 years and 3 days		Berisha Governments (I and II)
33rd	Edi Rama (born 1964)	13 September 2013	Incumbent	Rama Governments (I, II and III)
33rd	Edi Rama (born 1964)	8 years, 3 months and 15 days		Rama Governments (I, II and III)

References[]

^ "1998 CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA". osce.org. p. 19. At the beginning of a legislature, as well as when the position of Prime Minister is vacant, the President of the Republic appoints the Prime Minister on the proposal of the party or coalition of parties that has the majority of seats in the Assembly.
^ "1998 CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA". osce.org. p. 20. represents the Council of Ministers and chairs its meetings;
^ Article 102, Section 1-3 of the Constitution of Albania (22 November 1998)
^ Article 134, Section 1(b) of the Constitution of Albania (22 November 1998)
^ "1998 CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA". osce.org. p. 19. Before taking office, the Prime Minister, the deputy prime minister, and the ministers take an oath before the President of the Republic.
^ "KUSHTETUTA E REPUBLIKËS SË SHQIPËRISË" (PDF). wipo.int (in Albanian). Betohem se do t'i bindem Kushtetutes dhe ligjeve te vendit, do te respektoj te drejtat dhe lirite e shtetasve, do te mbroj pavaresine e Republikes se Shqiperise dhe do t'i sherbej interesit te pergjithshem dhe perparimit te Popullit Shqiptar". Presidenti mund te shtoje edhe: "zoti me ndihmofte
^ Dervishi, Kastriot (2012). Kryeministrat dhe ministrat e shtetit shqiptar në 100 vjet. Tiranë: Shtëpia Botuese "55". p. 273. ISBN 978-9994356225. OCLC 861296248.
^ Pearson, Owen (2005). Albania in Occupation and War: From Fascism to Communism, 1940-1945. London: The Centre for Albanian Studies. p. 1982. ISBN 1-84511-014-5.

[1] "1998 CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA". osce.org. p. 19. At the beginning of a legislature, as well as when the position of Prime Minister is vacant, the President of the Republic appoints the Prime Minister on the proposal of the party or coalition of parties that has the majority of seats in the Assembly.

[2] "1998 CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA". osce.org. p. 20. represents the Council of Ministers and chairs its meetings;

[3] Article 102, Section 1-3 of the Constitution of Albania (22 November 1998)

[4] Article 134, Section 1(b) of the Constitution of Albania (22 November 1998)

[5] "1998 CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA". osce.org. p. 19. Before taking office, the Prime Minister, the deputy prime minister, and the ministers take an oath before the President of the Republic.

[6] "KUSHTETUTA E REPUBLIKËS SË SHQIPËRISË" (PDF). wipo.int (in Albanian). Betohem se do t'i bindem Kushtetutes dhe ligjeve te vendit, do te respektoj te drejtat dhe lirite e shtetasve, do te mbroj pavaresine e Republikes se Shqiperise dhe do t'i sherbej interesit te pergjithshem dhe perparimit te Popullit Shqiptar". Presidenti mund te shtoje edhe: "zoti me ndihmofte

[Kryeministrat_dhe_ministrat_e_shtetit_shqiptar_në_100_vjet-7] Dervishi, Kastriot (2012). Kryeministrat dhe ministrat e shtetit shqiptar në 100 vjet. Tiranë: Shtëpia Botuese "55". p. 273. ISBN 978-9994356225. OCLC 861296248.

[Pearson-2005-AT-382-8] Pearson, Owen (2005). Albania in Occupation and War: From Fascism to Communism, 1940-1945. London: The Centre for Albanian Studies. p. 1982. ISBN 1-84511-014-5.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]