Albanian Democratization
A history of Albanian democratization.
Contents
Provisional Government
Following the Albanian Revolt in 1912, an All-Albanian Congress was convened in Vlorë. Ismail Qemali was elected president and declared an interest in separating the Albanian vilayet from the wider Ottoman Empire.
The congress established the Assembly of Vlorë (Kuvendi i Vlorës), which then quickly authorized a Provisional Government and an advisory Senate (Pleqënia). Qemali remained the head of state as prime minister.
The Treaty of London established a International Commission of Control, which was effectively guaranteed by the UK, Austria-Hungary, Italy, Germany, and Russia. This was the first stage to the division of the empire in Europe. Qemali did not support the treaty, as the borders imposed on Albania were much smaller than the vilayet's territory. Instead, he agreed to support an Ottoman takeover of Albania. Ahmed Izzet Pasha would have been named the monarch. The plot was discovered and the European guarantors of the treaty, plus France, intervened. Qemali fled the country.
The provisional government was replaced by a principality under Prince Wilhelm of Wied (Vilhelm), with Turhan Përmeti as prime minister. Durrës was made the capital city. World War 1 soon broke out however, and Wilhelm fled the country. Esad Toptani took this opportunity to seize power. His government fell apart within 2 years, and Përmeti returned to power.
The Congress of Durrës was organized to bring together the heads of Albanian provincial governments. The primary outcomes were authorizing Përmeti to represent Albania in Versailles, and rejecting Italian protectorate status.
Independence
In 1920, a wider set of political and landowning interests met in Lushnjë. This Congress of Lushnjë declared the Durrës government invalid, established a new High Council of Regency (Këshilli i Naltë i Regjencës), established the elective National Council (Këshilli Kombëtar), appointed Sulejman Delvina as prime minister, and relocated the capital to Tirana. This led directly into Vlorë being besieged in the so-called Vlora War. Giolitti ceded Albania in the Treaty of Tirana in exchange for keeping the island of Sazen (Sasseno).
Zog
Zog rose to prominence first as prime minister in 1923. He was forced to resign and flee the country following the June revolt. Fan Noli became prime minister and established diplomatic relations with Soviet Russia.
Zog returned to Albania with the backing of the White Russians. The monarchy was formally abolished, establishing a Republic of Albania in 1925. The Assembly was reformed into a bicameral legislature; an upper Senate (Senati) and a lower Chamber of Deputies. Military governors exercised direct power. Zog was elected the new president with effectively autocratic powers.
Three years later, Zog declared himself king of a new kingdom of Albania. His government became wholly dependent on Italian support, until he was overthrown by the Italian invasion in 1939. Even after World War 2, anti-monarchists blocked him from returning.
People's Socialist Republic of Albania
Opposition to the Italian occupation was largely coordinated through the National Liberation Movement, which the PKSh dominated. Hoxha established the Comintern-backed People's Socialist Republic of Albania.
During the Khrushchev era of reforms, Hoxha led the party to break from Moscow. Albania left the Warsaw Pact in 1968, and relations were instead pursued with China.
Republic of Albania
After Hoxha died in 1985, Ramiz Alia led Albania into a reform era. He legalized opposition parties. He organized elections for March 1991, in which the PKSh won a majority. The Parliament produced a new constitution creating the Republic of Albania, and also electing Alia to the presidency.
Alia left office in 1992, and soon stood trial on charges of abuse of power and misappropriation of state funds, and later also crimes against humanity.
Albania effectively has a two-party system between the PS and the PD.