Short facts about the government of Albania
| Country
name: |
conventional long
form: Republic of Albania
conventional short form: Albania
local long form: Republika e Shqiperise
local short form: Shqiperia
former: People's Socialist Republic of Albania |
| Government
type: |
emerging democracy |
| Administrative
divisions: |
36 districts (rrethe,
singular - rreth) and 1 municipality* (bashki); Berat, Bulqize, Delvine,
Devoll (Bilisht), Diber (Peshkopi), Durres, Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokaster,
Gramsh, Has (Krume), Kavaje, Kolonje (Erseke), Korce, Kruje, Kucove,
Kukes, Kurbin, Lezhe, Librazhd, Lushnje, Malesi e Madhe (Koplik),
Mallakaster (Ballsh), Mat (Burrel), Mirdite (Rreshen), Peqin, Permet,
Pogradec, Puke, Sarande, Shkoder, Skrapar (Corovode), Tepelene, Tirane
(Tirana), Tirane* (Tirana), Tropoje (Bajram Curri), Vlore
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their
administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name
following in parentheses) |
| Independence: |
28 November 1912 (from
Ottoman Empire) |
| National
holiday: |
Independence Day, 28
November (1912) |
| Constitution: |
a new constitution was
adopted by popular referendum on 28 November 1998; note - the opposition
Democratic Party boycotted the vote |
| Legal
system: |
has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction |
| Suffrage: |
18 years of age; universal
and compulsory |
| Executive
branch: |
chief of state:
President of the Republic Rexhep MEIDANI (since 24 July
1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Ilir META (since 29
October 1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime
minister and approved by the president
elections: president elected by the People's Assembly for a
five-year term; election last held 24 July 1997 (next to be held NA
2002); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Rexhep MEIDANI elected president;
People's Assembly vote by number - total votes 122, for 110, against 3,
abstained 2, invalid 7 |
| Legislative
branch: |
unicameral People's
Assembly or Kuvendi Popullor (155 seats; most members are elected by
direct popular vote and some by proportional vote for four-year terms)
elections: last held 29 June 1997 (next held 24 June 2001,
2nd round 8 July 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party - PS 53.36%, PD
25.33%, PSD 2.5%, PBDNJ 2.78%, PBK 2.36%, PAD 2.85%, PR 2.25%, PLL
3.09%, PDK 1.00%, PBSD 0.84%; seats by party - PS 101, PD 27, PSD 8,
PBDNJ 4, PBK 3, PAD 2, PR 2, PLL 2, PDK 1, PBSD 1, PUK 1, independents 3 |
| Judicial
branch: |
Supreme Court (chairman is
elected by the People's Assembly for a four-year term) |
| Political
parties and leaders: |
Albanian National Front (Balli
Kombetar) or PBK [Abaz ERMENJI]; Albanian Republican Party or PR [Fatmir
MEDIU]; Albanian Socialist Party or PS (formerly the Albania Workers
Party) [Fatos NANO, chairman]; Christian Democratic Party or PDK [Zef
BUSHATI]; Democratic Alliance or PAD [Neritan CEKA]; Democratic Party or
PD [Sali BERISHA]; Group of Reformist Democrats [Leonard NDOKA]; Liberal
Union Party [Teodor LACO]; note - Teodor LACO of the Liberal Union Party
was leader of the Social Democratic Union of Albania or PBSD; Movement
of Legality Party or PLL [Nderim KUPI]; OMONIA [Vagjelis DULES]; Party
of National Unity or PUK [Idajet BEQUIRI]; Social Democratic Party or
PSD [Skender GJINUSHI]; Unity for Human Rights Party or PBDNJ [Vasil
MELO, chairman] |
| Political
pressure groups and leaders: |
NA |
| International
organization participation: |
ACCT (associate), BSEC,
CCC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO |
| Diplomatic
representation in the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Petrit BUSHATI
chancery: 2100 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 223-4942
FAX: [1] (202) 628-7342 |
| Diplomatic
representation from the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Joseph LIMPRECHT
embassy: Rruga Elbasanit Labinoti 103, Tirana
mailing address: PSC 59, Box 100(A), APO AE 09624
telephone: [355] (42) 32875, 33520
FAX: [355] (42) 32222 |
| Flag
description: |
red with a black two-headed
eagle in the center |
Source: World Factbook |
