= Enver Hoxha = '''Enver Hoxha''' was the effective head of state in the [[Albania/Democratization#People.27s_Socialist_Republic_of_Albania|People's Socialist Republic of Albania]]. <> ---- == History == The '''Communist Party of Albania''' ('''PKSh''') (''Partia Komuniste e Shqipërisë'') was founded as a [[WorldHistory/Comintern|Comintern]]-backed resistance cell against the [[Italy/BenitoMussolini|Italian]] [[WorldHistory/WorldWar2#Albania|occupation]]. Hoxha was selected as a Muslim representative and quickly rose through the organization, ultimately being elected to first secretary in 1943. There were immediate diplomatic strains between Hoxha and the [[WorldHistory/Yugoslavia|Yugoslav Partisan]] agents, over possession of [[Kosovo]]. Upon liberation, the '''National Liberation Movement''' became the '''Democratic Front''' and its leaders became a provisional national government. Hoxha was named interim prime minister. Only Front parties were allowed to contest the December 1945 elections, so he remained the ''de facto'' head of state. Shortly after the elections, [[Albania/Monarchs#Zog|Zog]] was formally deposed and the country renamed itself to the [[Albania/Democratization#People.27s_Socialist_Republic_of_Albania|People's Socialist Republic of Albania]]. Hoxha further distanced the Albanian communists from [[WorldHistory/Yugoslavia/JosipBrozTito|Tito]], after [[Russia/JosephStalin|Stalin]] shared intelligence that an annexation of Albania was planned. PKSh was renamed to the [[Albania/PartyOfLabor|Party of Labor]]. During the [[Russia/NikitaKhrushchev|Khrushchev]] era of reforms, Hoxha began withdrawing from the [[WorldHistory/WarsawPact|Warsaw Pact]]. Then in response to the invasion of [[Slovakia/AlexanderDubcek|Czechslovakia]], he officially exited the Warsaw Pact. He instead pursued trade and diplomacy with [[China/MaoZedong|China]], currently in the middle of the Cultural Revolution. This too began to be reversed in 1972, following [[UnitedStates/RichardNixon|Nixon's]] diplomatic visit to [[China/Beijing|Beijing]]. Diplomatic relations with China were officially severed in 1978. Hoxha's health began failing in the 1970s, and many state functions were delegated to '''Ramiz Alia'''. He died in 1985, and technically still in office. ---- CategoryRicottone