The Assembly of the Republic of Albania is the unicameral representative body of the citizens of the Republic of Albania; it is Albania’s legislature. The Parliament is composed of no less than 140 members elected to a four-year term.
The Speaker of the Assembly is Ms. Elisa Spiropali, elected on 30 July 2024
Parliamentarism in Albania has a relatively short history closely related with the evolution of Albanian state. During this period it experienced constant changes in response to governance systems or time dynamics. It has already established its way of organization and functioning transforming into the most important institution of the development of political life in the country.
Since the establishment of the Albanian state on November 28, 1912, Albania has tried several models of governance, including international protectorate, monarchy, party-state regime, and parliamentary republic. During this period, the function of the President of the Republic and the President of the State was exercised in different forms.
In 1912, the first government was created with Ismail Qemalin at the head, which also had the powers of the President of the State. On February 6, 1914, the Conference of Ambassadors appointed Prince Vilhelm Vid as the Head of the Albanian State. In the period September 1914 – January 1920, Albania became a battleground by changing several governments, where the duty of the Head of State was covered by different regency governments. On January 8, 1920, the Congress of Lushnja elected the High Council of 4 people, which would perform the functions of the President of the State, restoring parliamentarism. In 1924, Fan Noli was elected head of the government, also exercising the functions of the Head of State. After frequent changes in government, on January 31, 1925, the National Assembly approved the republican form of government and voted Ahmet Zogun as President of the Republic. On September 1, 1928, Albania was declared a Monarchy and Ahmet Zogu was declared King of the Albanians. After the invasion of Albania by Italy in April 1939 and the union of the two countries, Victor Emmanuel III became the King of Albania. The years 1943-’44 under the German occupation brought back the regency governments.
The end of the Second World War and the liberation of Albania in 1944 was accompanied by the first parliamentary elections in December 1945 and the transfer of the function of the President of the State to a collegial body, such as the Presidium of the People’s Assembly. In the period January 11, 1946 – December 12, 1990, during which Albania experienced the communist dictatorship, the functions of the President of the State were performed by Omer Nishani (January 10, 1946 – August 1, 1953), Haxhi Lleshi (August 1, 1953 – November 22, 1982) and Ramiz Alia (22 November 1982 – 22 February 1991). On February 22, 1991, the Presidential Council headed by Ramiz Alia was established, which exercised its functions until April 30, 1991.
On April 30, 1991, with the election of the first President of the Parliamentary Republic by a multi-party parliament, the Constitutional Institution of the President of the Republic was created.
www.president.alg>National Assembly of Vlora (1912)
The parliamentarism institution in Albania dates since with the meeting of the National Assembly of Vlora. As the first representative body of people, it was responsible for the important task of declaring the Independence of Albania. It elected the Provisional Government, headed by Ismail Qemali.
Albanian State under the regime of Prince Vidi and Organic Statute of Albania (1914)
After the National Assembly of Vlora, parliamentarism, as an institution was sanctioned in all statutes that followed the consolidation of the Albanian state. For the first time, it is foreseen by the Organic Statute of Albania, drafted by the International Committee of Control, in 1914, even though, the First World War made the establishment of such a body impossible. According to the statute, National Assembly, as a legislative body, was composed of members elected by the people, members nominated by the prince and “ex officio” members (36 members).After the declaration of the independence, Albania faced other difficult years. Although the Treaty of London had set the boarders of Albania, the expansionist desires of states that wanted to gain more territories were still active, dreaming again of its division. Under these circumstances, on 27 March 1920 it was convened the Congress of Lushnja
National Council of Lushnja (Senate) (27 March 1920 – 20 December 1920)
The Congress of Lushnja established the Senate, the first Albanian Parliament (more over the National Council), as a legislative body, composed of 37 members elected by the delegates of the Congress. The Congress expressed in a politically organized way the will of Albanians to take the country’s control in their own hands. During this period, for the first time were affirmed the principles of parliamentarism: nomination and dismissal of the Government by the Senate and the exercise of parliamentary control. Although the first Albanian parliament extended its legislative activity in a short period of time, managed to adopt some important laws. The most important act was the Statute of Lushnja, a constitutional law.Legislative activity of National Council ended in December 1920, when the Council was dissolved to organize the first elections in Albania (March 1921).
National Council (21 April 1921 – 30 September 1923) Extended Statute of Lushnja
After the elections of March of 1921, the country was represented by 78 MPs. Since that period, parliament began to appear as a body elected by the people, which clearly defines duties in the time statute. The extension to the Statute of Lushnja, which is known as the statute of 1922 of the Albanian state, turned this act into a constitution with the highest power in the state and sanctioned the parliamentary fullness. The most important body exercising the legislative power, called “National Council” was named “Parliament”. As the single legislative body, it consisted of a chamber of deputies elected by the people on basis of general election (indirect voting). Two political groups were clearly distinguished during this time: Peoples’ Party headed by Fan Noli and Progressive Party headed by Hoxhë Kadriu. In legislative field, the activity of the National Council focused on the law on judiciary organization, fulfilment of existing rules of procedure with new elements of transparency and parliamentary activity, MPs oath in front of the council etc.In September of 1923, National Council concluded its proceedings by the end of 2-year legislature in order to organize the new elections for the Constitutional Assembly, held in December of this year.
Constitutional Assembly 21 January 1924 – 2 March 1925
Constitutional Assembly, composed of 100 MPs, exercise its activity into two periods (21 January – 2 June 1924 and December 1924 – 2 March 1925). Its main duty was the drafting and adoption of a written constitution (and it was named after it) where must be sanctioned the manner of governance. The objective was not achieved during the first period of its activity due to the aggravation of political situation in the country after the assassination of Avni Rustemit and the attempted attack of the prime minister of that time Ahmet Zogu. On 2 June 1924 Assembly concluded the proceedings of the first period. After the dissolution of the Government, Ahmet Zogu left Albania, remaining illegally until December of 1924. During this period the Government of Fan Noli came into power but it has a short life (June – December 1924). With the return of Ahmet Zogu into power, a moment which marked the so-called “triumph of legitimacy”, the Constitutional Assembly restarted its proceedings. It succeeded in fulfilling the task for which it was created: the adoption of the Essential Statute of the State and the definition of its form.
Albanian Republic Period 1925 – 1928
The Statute affirmed the form of governance by defining Albania as a Parliamentary Republic “led by a chairperson the sovereignty of whom come from the people”. At a special decision of the Constitutional Assembly, Ahmet Zogu was elected at the head of the state. For the first and last time in the parliamentary history of Albania, Parliament was represented by two chambers: Senate and Chamber of Deputies. The dual system had a short parliamentary life and constituted the only experience in the parliamentary history of Albania. The Chamber of Deputies (Lower Chamber) was composed of 57 MPs elected by the people while the Senate (Supreme Chamber) was composed of 18 senators, 2/3 of whom were elected by the people while 1/3 by the President of the Republic. The Statute affirmed a perfect two-chambersystem but in certain cases gave the Senate the advantage placing the Chamber into inferiority positions.Another body of the Parliament was that of convening the two chambers into a joint session, called Legislative Assembly, represented in the statute as a separate body. During this time, the Parliament adopted a number of important laws such as: the law on national bank, the law on civil pensions etc. it was characterized by the lack of pluralism and because of the great problems of electoral system, it maintained a fictitious representative character. The lack of political parties characterized the entire period of Ahmet Zogu’s rule as the Chairman of the Republic and then King of Albanians. The dissolution of the Parliament of the Republic came after the debates on the changing of the form of the governance opening the road of the new elections for the Constitutional Assembly.
Albanian Kingdom Period 1928 – 1939
The Constitutional Assembly, emerged by the elections of 17 August 1928 composed of 58 MPs, sanctioned in the statute “the monarchy” form of the governance and foresaw the unanimous parliamentary system. Albania was declared “Democratic, parliamentary and hereditary kingdom”, and the King of Albanians was sanctioned “His Majesty Zogu I, from the famous Albanian family, Zogu”. It concluded the proceedings on 1 December 1928, transforming into parliament. During this period, important acts such as: civil code, trade code, penal code or the code of civil procedure were adopted and marked drastic detachment from Ottoman legislation. For this reason, the parliament of that time was named by Zogu I as “constructive parliament” and “reformatory parliament”.After the Italian invasion, in April 1937, the King Ahmet Zogu I left Albania. The crown of Albania was offered to the King of Italy, Viktor Emanuelit III.
Parliament and war
According to the essential statute of the Albanian kingdom, accorded by the King Viktor Emanueli III, Albanian state was a constitutional monarchy. Legislative power was exercised by the king in cooperation with the Upper Fascist Corporate Council. Moreover, on 16 October 1943 with the arrival of Nazi invaders it was convened the National Assembly, composed of 247 members, which reinstated the establishment of the High Council as the head of the state. It returned to parliament by exercising the legislative power together with this body. This period is characterized by the denial of parliamentarism principles.
Parliament and post-war
The elections for the post-war Constitutional Assembly were held on 2 December 1945. Women participated the elections for the first time. During this period it was adopted the constitution of 14 March 1946, where the Constitutional Assembly was transformed into Peoples’ Parliament. Under the conditions of the lack of political pluralism in the country, the Peoples’ Parliament was a formal body which was convened twice a year. In 1976 Peoples’ Parliament adopted the Constitution of Peoples’ Socialist Republic of Albania which kept the features of a fully orientated ideologically program. The role of the Parliament remained fictitious for as long as the free elections were not sanctioned and no pluralism could be said.
Revival of parliamentarism (1991)
After 5 decades, in Albania the first signs of parliamentarism emerged. After a 67-year period it is convened the first pluralist parliament came out of the elections of 31 March 1991 (250 MPs). The law “On the main constitutional Provisions”, adopted during this year brought changes in the frame work of democratic organization of the state. It was gradually supplemented by anumber of other constitutional laws up to the adoption of totally new constitution.On 21 October 1998, Peoples’ Assembly adopted the new Constitution, drafted with the assistance of international organizations as well. New Constitution made possible the better understanding of the political system in Albania and the role of the new stake holders. The name Peoples’ Assembly changed into the Parliament of Albania (one-chamber, 140 MPs).After the entry into force of the Constitution, Parliament, the highest body of legislative Power, continued the process of drafting and adopting the laws. During these years the role of the Parliament has increased considerably in the creation of a constitutional and legal frame work as the premise for the establishment of the rule of law. It is transformed into the most important institution of the development of political life in the country. Legislative activity is one of the most active instruments for the consolidation of state institutions and euro-Atlantic integration.
