How unpleasant for the Albanians, but their homeland has always been, as it were, on the sidelines of history and geopolitics. However, the very "biography" of this state can hardly be called calm. Boiling passions do not contribute to a democratic system, the hallmark of which is usually considered the institution of the presidency. In Albania, the presidency appeared only in the last decade of the last century.
In the tenets of slavery
Shkiparez (self-name of Albania in the Albanian language) for centuries did not have its own statehood. Except, of course, the ancient Illyria conquered by Rome. Further, if there were any state formations, it was difficult to call them independent. The power of Rome, then the Byzantine Empire, post-Byzantine city-states, then the Serbian and Bulgarian principalities and kingdoms, then the subjugation of Venice and the seemingly eternal yoke of the Ottoman Empire. What kind of democracy is it?
The rudiments of democracy
However, the collapse of the Ottoman Empire as a result of the defeat in the First World War made it possible virtually peaceful liberation of the country. In fact, the first leader of Albania in 1912 was Ismail Kemali, who made a political and administrative career in the Ottoman Empire. He did not have the president’s title, but in fact he was, acting as prime minister during the transitional period.
King president
As a result of the first democratic elections, Ahmet Zogu became the first president of Albania. The representative of the Albanian elite, in whose veins flowed the blue blood of the semi-legendary hero of Albania Shkenderbey. Shkenderbey himself did not have a throne, but, apparently, his blood turned the head of a descendant who considered that the monarchy in his person would be a boon to Albania. With the help of Russian White Guard officers, the first president made a military coup and became the first and only king of the Albanians. Nevertheless, the activity of the Zog the First is evaluated positively. The internal political squabbles in the country decreased, and a clear development program was formed, which was being implemented. Alas, the Albanian monarchy ended with the Italian occupation.
Communists in power
During the Second World War, the Communist Party of Albania became the most active and active political force in the country. It was she who formed the partisan detachments, which gradually acquired an army structure. With the expulsion of the Italians and the Germans who came to hold the position of the Germans who left the war, the Communists naturally came to power in the country. The conflict with the Soviet Union forced the Communist Party to be renamed the Labor Party, whose leader with the title of Chairman of the National Assembly became the head of state. There were only three of them. The first two are very respected people. Moreover, the second - Haji Lesha - went from a National hero to a life sentenced for crimes against humanity, as he became some kind of Soviet Beria (in the photo below Lesha among his comrades).
The third, Ramiz Aliya, was also the first president of democratic Albania and in itself was an attempt by the Communist Socialists to hold onto power.
In search of harmony
The difficult economic and social situation of Albania does not allow the country to find a balance in everything. After serious unrest in the country, which led to a change in political course, the presidents change each other, mainly alternating in the order of "democrat - socialist." To establish life in the country to the full is not possible either right or left. Now in power, a representative of a moderate socialist party.
Presidential List
| Name | Years of life | Reign | The consignment | Pre-presidential and post-presidential career |
| Ahmet Zogu | 10/10/1895 - 04/09/1961 | 1925-1928 | Non-partisan with monarchical views | To: Governor of Mati, Governor of Shkoder, Minister of the Interior of Albania, Minister of War of Albania, Prime Minister of Albania. After: made a military coup and usurped power with the title of King of Albanians. |
| Ramiz Aliya | 10/18/1925 - 7/10/2011 | 1991—92 | Socialist party | Prior to: third chairman of the National Assembly of Albania, first secretary of the Central Committee of the Albanian Labor Party. |
| Sali Berisha | 10/15/1944 | 1992–97 | Democratic Party | To: head of the Democratic Party. After: Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Albania |
| Recep Meidani | 08/17/1944 | 1997-2002 | Socialist party | Prior to: Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tirana, Head of the Central Election Commission, Member of the Presidential Council, Chairman of the Albanian Human Rights Council, General Secretary of the Socialist Party. |
| Alfred Moyciu | 12/01/1929 | 2002-07 | Democratic Party | Prior to: Deputy Minister of Defense of Albania, Minister of Defense of Albania, Advisor to the Minister of Defense of Albania, President of the pro-war bloc of the Albanian-North Atlantic Association. After: Member of the European Council for Tolerance and Mutual Respect |
| Bamir Marsh | 04/24/1957 | 2007-12 | Democratic Party | Prior to: Minister of Agriculture and Food of Albania, Member of the Assembly of Albania, Vice-Chairman of the Democratic Party, Honorary President of the Tirana Football Club. |
| Buyar Nishani | 09/29/1966 | 2012-17 | Democratic Party | To: Minister of the Interior of Albania, Minister of Justice of Albania. |
| Ilir Meta | 03/24/1969 | since 2017 | Socialist Movement for Integration | Prior to: Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Albania, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Albania, Speaker of the National Assembly of Albania, founder and leader of the Socialist Movement for Integration Party. |
Residence
The residence of the President of Albania is located in the capital Tirana.
Until democratic times, the following people performed the functions of the head of Albania as an independent state.
Prime Minister Acting Head of Albania
| Name | Years of life | Reign | The consignment | Career (before and after) |
| Ismail Kemali | 01/16/1844 - 01/24/1919 | 1912 - 14 | Non-partisan | To: Governor of several Balkan cities of the Ottoman Empire, Governor of Beirut, chairman of the Ottoman National Assembly, initiator of the Declaration of Independence of Albania. |
King of Albanians
| Name | Years of life | Reign | The consignment | Career (before and after) |
| Zog I (Ahmet Zog) | 10/10/1895 - 04/09/1961 | 1928 - 39 | Non-partisan | To: see the presidents. |
Chairman of the Presidium of the National Assembly of Albania (socialist period)
| Name | Years of life | Reign | The consignment | Career (before and after) |
| Omer Nishani | 5.02.1887 –26.05.1954 | 1946-53 | Albanian Labor Party | To: head of the Anti-Fascist Council, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Albania. |
| Haji Lesha | 10/19/1913 - 01/01/1998 | 1953–82 | Albanian Labor Party | Prior to: commander of the national liberation army of Albania, awarded the title People's Hero, Minister of the Interior of Albania. After: sentenced to life imprisonment for crimes against humanity, released for health reasons. |
| Ramiz Aliya | 10/18/1925 - 7/10/2011 | 1982-1991 | Albanian Labor Party | See in the presidents. |
Ilir Meta - President of Albania now
On July 24, 2017, after the next democratic parliamentary elections (the presidential elections in Albania are not popular, only members of parliament have this right), Ilir Meta took the presidential oath.
Who is Meta? The answer is in a large interview on the TV channel "Russia 24".
President of Albania (photo below) Meta is an experienced state functionary with extensive connections.
He has a good economic education. When he was a teacher, he lectured at leading universities in the world - such as Harvard University and the London School of Economics. Fluent in Italian and English. Married, has a son and two daughters, as well as the hope of the entire Albanian people that he will become the first president of the country, who will succeed in leading Albania out of the eternal crisis.