Lulzim Basha
Encyclopedia
Lulzim Xhelal Basha is an Albania
n politician.
In 2005, Basha was appointed Minister of Public Works, Transport and Telecommunications in the government of Sali Berisha
where he served for two years. Then, during the period 2007-2009, Basha served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and later in the period 2009-2011 Basha served as Minister of Interior.
(today Kosovo
). After attending the Sami Frashëri High School, he studied law at Utrecht University
in the Netherlands
and worked for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
(1998–1999). While working there, he contributed to the file against former Yugoslav
president Slobodan Milosevic
. He later worked for the Department of Justice of the UN administration of Kosovo
, UNMIK (2000–2005), before entering politics in Albania. Lulzim Basha is married to Aurela Basha (née Isufi), a Dutch citizen with Albanian origin.
in January 2005 and became a member of the party's Presidency in May of that year. He served as party's Spokeman during the 2005 parliamentary elections at which he was elected to the Albanian Parliament.
After the 2005 parliamentary elections, Lulzim Basha became Minister of Public Works, Transport and Telecommunications where he served for a period of two years, until he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2007.
As Minister of Public Works, Transport and Telecommunications Basha initiated the major infrastructural work, Durrës-Kukes Highway
, in the Albanian history, involving the construction of 5.6 km tunnel. In 2007 the Chief Prosecutor of Albania Theodhori Sollaku
asked the parliament to lift Basha's immunity from prosecution
so he could begin an investigation into possible corruption and abuse of power charges. This was in regard to the awarding of Durrës-Kukes highway construction contract to a U.S.-Turkish
joint venture. Basha said that the charges were politically motivated, although he asked the Parliament to lift his immunity and consequently the Supreme Court of Albania relieved him of all the charges.
until his appointment as Minister of Interior in 2009. During his term, Albania
was admitted in the NATO and achieved EU visa liberalisation.
for the Democratic Party
and the Coalition of the Citizen
, challenging Edi Rama
, incumbent mayor and leader of the Socialist Party of Albania
. After a long process of votes counting, Basha was elected the new mayor of Tirana and his election was certified by the CEC. He is the new mayor of the largest and capital city of Albania.
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
n politician.
In 2005, Basha was appointed Minister of Public Works, Transport and Telecommunications in the government of Sali Berisha
Sali Berisha
Sali Ram Berisha is an Albanian politician and cardiologist, currently the Prime Minister of Albania and the leader of Democratic Party of Albania ....
where he served for two years. Then, during the period 2007-2009, Basha served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and later in the period 2009-2011 Basha served as Minister of Interior.
Early career
Lulzim Bbasha was born in Tirana in a family originating from DrenicaDrenica
Drenica also known as the Drenica Valley, is a hilly region in central Kosovo, covering . Located west of the capital Prishtina, its population of 110,000 is largely ethnic-Albanian....
(today Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
). After attending the Sami Frashëri High School, he studied law at Utrecht University
Utrecht University
Utrecht University is a university in Utrecht, Netherlands. It is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands and one of the largest in Europe. Established March 26, 1636, it had an enrollment of 29,082 students in 2008, and employed 8,614 faculty and staff, 570 of which are full professors....
in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and worked for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
The International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991, more commonly referred to as the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia or ICTY, is a...
(1998–1999). While working there, he contributed to the file against former Yugoslav
Yugoslavs
Yugoslavs is a national designation used by a minority of South Slavs across the countries of the former Yugoslavia and in the diaspora...
president Slobodan Milosevic
Slobodan Milošević
Slobodan Milošević was President of Serbia and Yugoslavia. He served as the President of Socialist Republic of Serbia and Republic of Serbia from 1989 until 1997 in three terms and as President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from 1997 to 2000...
. He later worked for the Department of Justice of the UN administration of Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
, UNMIK (2000–2005), before entering politics in Albania. Lulzim Basha is married to Aurela Basha (née Isufi), a Dutch citizen with Albanian origin.
Minister of Public Works, Transport and Telecommunications (2005–2007)
Basha joined the Democratic Party of AlbaniaDemocratic Party of Albania
The Democratic Party of Albania is a center-right, Conservative, political party in Albania and the leading party in the governing coalition since the 2005 parliamentary elections...
in January 2005 and became a member of the party's Presidency in May of that year. He served as party's Spokeman during the 2005 parliamentary elections at which he was elected to the Albanian Parliament.
After the 2005 parliamentary elections, Lulzim Basha became Minister of Public Works, Transport and Telecommunications where he served for a period of two years, until he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs in 2007.
As Minister of Public Works, Transport and Telecommunications Basha initiated the major infrastructural work, Durrës-Kukes Highway
Albania-Kosovo Highway
The Albania-Kosovo Highway is a 4-lane highway being built between Albania and Kosovo...
, in the Albanian history, involving the construction of 5.6 km tunnel. In 2007 the Chief Prosecutor of Albania Theodhori Sollaku
Theodhori Sollaku
Theodhori Sollaku was the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Albania from 2002 to 2007. He was appointed on March 29, 2002, to replace Arben Rakipi, who had been removed from office through a procedure later ruled unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court of Albania...
asked the parliament to lift Basha's immunity from prosecution
Parliamentary immunity
Parliamentary immunity, also known as legislative immunity, is a system in which members of the parliament or legislature are granted partial immunity from prosecution. Before prosecuting, it is necessary that the immunity be removed, usually by a superior court of justice or by the parliament itself...
so he could begin an investigation into possible corruption and abuse of power charges. This was in regard to the awarding of Durrës-Kukes highway construction contract to a U.S.-Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
joint venture. Basha said that the charges were politically motivated, although he asked the Parliament to lift his immunity and consequently the Supreme Court of Albania relieved him of all the charges.
Foreign Minister (2007–2009)
Basha served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 25 April 2007 when he replaced Besnik MustafajBesnik Mustafaj
Besnik Bajram Mustafaj is an Albanian writer and diplomat. He became foreign minister of Albania on September 11, 2005, when the government of Prime Minister Sali Berisha took office. He resigned on April 24, 2007 and was replaced by Lulzim Basha on April 25. His resignation came after strong...
until his appointment as Minister of Interior in 2009. During his term, Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
was admitted in the NATO and achieved EU visa liberalisation.
Interior Minister (2009)
In 2009 Basha was nominated as Minister of Interior of Berisha's government. As Minister of Interior, he implemented all the required criteria for Visa Liberalization. Later, the opposition criticised him for the behaviour of the police during the clashes with protesters in an anti-government rally in front of the Government building in Tirana on 21 January 2011; though video evidence did show that the police acted appropriately. The U.S. Embassy, the OSCE presence and the EU delegation in Albania issued a joint statement considering the opposition's anti-government rally as not peaceful.Candidate - Mayor of Tirana (2011)
In 2011, Basha ran for the post of mayor of TiranaTirana
Tirana is the capital and the largest city of Albania. Modern Tirana was founded as an Ottoman town in 1614 by Sulejman Bargjini, a local ruler from Mullet, although the area has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. Tirana became Albania's capital city in 1920 and has a population of over...
for the Democratic Party
Democratic Party of Albania
The Democratic Party of Albania is a center-right, Conservative, political party in Albania and the leading party in the governing coalition since the 2005 parliamentary elections...
and the Coalition of the Citizen
Coalition of the Citizen
Aleanca për Qytetarin is a coalition for the Albanian local elections of 2011. The alliance exist of:...
, challenging Edi Rama
Edi Rama
Edi Rama is an Albanian politician, painter, publicist, professor, and former athlete. Currently he is the leader of the Socialist Party of Albania, the biggest party in Albania , by wining the most of votes as a party in the last eight election.He has served as board member at the local Soros...
, incumbent mayor and leader of the Socialist Party of Albania
Socialist Party of Albania
The Socialist Party of Albania , is a centre-left, social democraticand socially liberal political party in Albania, it is currently the leading opposition party in Albania. It seats 66 MPs in the 2009 Albanian parliament . It achieved power in 1997 after a political crisis and governmental...
. After a long process of votes counting, Basha was elected the new mayor of Tirana and his election was certified by the CEC. He is the new mayor of the largest and capital city of Albania.