Albania

V

Government

The constitution of 1946 proclaimed Albania a people’s republic. A second constitution, enacted in 1976, was superseded in 1991 by an interim constitution that changed the name of the country to the Republic of Albania. Following a referendum, the country's first post-communist constitution was signed into law by President Rexhep Mejdani in November 1998.

A

Executive and Legislature

Executive power rests with the president of the republic, who is commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The president, who is indirectly elected by the legislature for a term of five years, appoints the prime minister to head the People’s Assembly. The nation’s first free multi-party legislative elections were held in 1991; voting for a reconstituted parliament of 140 seats (100 directly elected, the remainder chosen by proportional representation) took place in March 1992. There were subsequent elections in 1997, 2001, and 2005.

B

Political Parties

From the mid-1940s until the end of the 1980s the country’s only political party was the Communist Party, officially known as the Albanian Party of Labour (APL) or Workers’ Party. Opposition parties were legalized in December 1990. In the March 1992 election, the Democratic Party defeated the former Communists, running as the Socialist Party of Albania. After the general election of 2001, seats in the People’s Assembly were held by politicians from the Socialist Party of Albania (PSS), the Democratic Party of Albania (PDS), the Social Democratic Party of Albania (PSD), the Democratic Alliance (PAD), the Albanian Agrarian Party (PNA), and the Union for People’s Rights (PBDN). A group of parties fought the election as Union for Victory (BF): the conservative Democratic Party of Albania (PDS); the nationalist Party of the Albanian National Front (PBKS); the conservative Republican Party of Albania (PRS); the monarchist Movement of Legality Party (PLL); and the Liberal-Democratic Union (BLD). Following the 2005 election the PDS and the PSS became the leading parties with 56 and 42 seats respectively.

C

Judiciary

The highest judicial body is the Supreme Court, the members of which are elected by the People’s Assembly for terms of four years. Justice is dispensed by district courts, Courts of Appeal, and the Supreme Court. Judges in the district and Appeal Courts are nominated by a Higher Judicial Council, which is presided over by the president of the republic, and those in the Supreme Court are elected by the People’s Assembly. The judicial system is administered by the Ministry of Justice (re-established in 1990), which supervises the organization and functioning of the courts. Reforms were implemented in 1990 and 1993, when the number of capital offences was reduced from 13 to 6, and women were exempted from the death penalty.

D

Local Government

Albania is divided into 12 prefectures or counties (Berat, Dibër, Durrës, Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokastër, Korcë, Kukës, Lezhë, Shkodër, Tiranë, and Vlorë), which are subdivided into 36 districts (Berat, Bulqizë, Delvinë, Devoll, Dibër, Durrës, Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokastër, Gramsh, Has, Kavajë, Kolonjë, Korcë, Krujë, Kuçovë, Kukës, Kurbin, Lezhë, Librazhd, Lushnjë, Malsi e Madhe, Mallakastër, Mat, Mirditë, Peqin, Permët, Pogradec, Pukë, Sarandë, Shkodër, Skrapar, Tepelenë, Tiranë, Tropojë, Vlorë), and then further into communes and municipalities. Local government is administered by multi-party elected councils.