= Albanian Democratization = A history of '''Albanian democratization'''. <> ---- == Provisional Government == Following the '''Albanian Revolt''' in 1912, an '''All-Albanian Congress''' was convened in [[Albania/Vlore|Vlorë]]. '''Ismail Qemali''' was elected president and declared an interest in separating the [[WorldHistory/OttomanEmpire/Vilayets#Albania|Albanian vilayet]] from the wider [[WorldHistory/OttomanEmpire|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 [[WorldHistory/BalkanWars#First_War|Treaty of London]] established a '''International Commission of Control''', which was effectively guaranteed by the [[UnitedKingdom/|UK]], [[Austria/|Austria-Hungary]], [[Italy/GiovanniGiolitti|Italy]], [[Germany/|Germany]], and [[Russia/|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/|France]], intervened. Qemali fled the country. The provisional government was replaced by a [[Albania/Monarchs#Principality_of_Albania|principality]] under '''Prince Wilhelm of Wied''' (''Vilhelm''), with '''Turhan Përmeti''' as prime minister. [[Albania/Durres|Durrës]] was made the capital city. [[WorldHistory/WorldWar1|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 [[WorldHistory/WorldWar1#Conclusion_and_Aftermath|Versailles]], and rejecting Italian protectorate status. ---- == Independence == In 1920, a wider set of political and landowning interests met in [[Albania/Lushnje|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 [[Albania/Tirana|Tirana]]. This led directly into Vlorë being besieged in the so-called '''Vlora War'''. [[Italy/GiovanniGiolitti|Giolitti]] ceded Albania in the '''Treaty of Tirana''' in exchange for keeping the island of '''Sazen''' (''Sasseno''). ---- == Zog Era == '''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 [[Russia/JosephStalin|Soviet Russia]]. Zog returned to Albania with the backing of the [[Russia/Democratization#Civil_War|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 [[Albania/Monarchs#Zog|kingdom of Albania]]. His government became wholly dependent on [[Italy/BenitoMussolini|Italian]] support, until he was overthrown by the Italian invasion in 1939. Even after [[WorldHistory/WorldWar2|World War 2]], anti-monarchists blocked him from returning. ---- == People's Socialist Republic of Albania == Opposition to the [[Italy/BenitoMussolini|Italian]] [[WorldHistory/WorldWar2#Albania|occupation]] was largely coordinated through the '''National Liberation Movement''', which the [[Albania/PartyOfLabor|PKSh]] dominated. [[Albania/EnverHoxha|Hoxha]] established the [[WorldHistory/Comintern|Comintern]]-backed '''People's Socialist Republic of Albania'''. During the [[Russia/NikitaKhrushchev|Khrushchev]] era of reforms, Hoxha led the party to break from Moscow. Albania left the [[WorldHistory/WarsawPact|Warsaw Pact]] in 1968, and relations were instead pursued with [[China/MaoZedong|China]]. ---- == Republic of Albania == After Hoxha died in 1985, '''Ramiz Alia''' led Albania into a reform era. He legalized opposition [[Albania/PoliticalParties|parties]]. He organized elections for March 1991, in which the PKSh won a majority. The [[Albania/Kuvendi|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. '''Sali Berisha''' led the country to join [[WorldHistory/NorthAtlanticTreatyOrganization|NATO]] in 2009. Albania effectively has a two-party system between the [[Albania/SocialistParty|PS]] and the [[Albania/DemocraticParty|PD]]. ---- CategoryRicottone