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Lulzim Basha

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Lulzim Basha
Basha in 2016
Leader of the Opposition
In office
30 July 2023 – 11 June 2024
PresidentBajram Begaj
Prime MinisterEdi Rama
Preceded byEnkelejd Alibeaj
Succeeded bySali Berisha
In office
15 September 2013 – 21 March 2022
PresidentBujar Nishani
Ilir Meta
Prime MinisterEdi Rama
Preceded byEdi Rama
Succeeded byEnkelejd Alibeaj
Leader of the Democratic Party
In office
30 July 2023 – 11 June 2024
Preceded byEnkelejd Alibeaj
Succeeded bySali Berisha
In office
22 July 2013 – 21 March 2022
Preceded bySali Berisha
Succeeded byEnkelejd Alibeaj
Other political offices 2005–⁠2015
41st Mayor of Tirana
In office
25 July 2011 – 21 July 2015
Preceded byEdi Rama
Succeeded byErion Veliaj
28th Minister of the Interior
In office
17 September 2009 – 25 April 2011
Prime MinisterSali Berisha
Preceded byBujar Nishani
Succeeded byBujar Nishani
47th Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office
24 April 2007 – 17 September 2009
Prime MinisterSali Berisha
Preceded byBesnik Mustafaj
Succeeded byIlir Meta
Minister of Public Works, Transport and Telecommunications
In office
11 September 2005 – 24 April 2007
Prime MinisterSali Berisha
Preceded bySpartak Poçi
Succeeded bySokol Olldashi
Personal details
Born (1974-06-12) 12 June 1974 (age 50)
Tirana
Political partyDemocratic Party
SpouseAurela Basha
Children2
Alma materUtrecht University (LLB)
Occupation
  • Politician
  • Lawyer
Signature

Lulzim Basha (listenⓘ; born 12 June 1974) is an Albanian lawyer and former politician who served as chairman of the Democratic Party of Albania and as the Leader of the Opposition from 2013 to 2022 and again from 2023 until 2024.

He was the candidate of the Democratic Party in the 2017 Albanian parliamentary election and in the 2021 Albanian parliamentary election where he lost in both by the incumbent prime minister Edi Rama.

Early life and education

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Lulzim Basha was born in Tirana on 12 June 1974 to a Kosovo-Albanian mother and an Albanian father. From his mother's side, he is respectively from Mitrovica (grandfather) and Gjilan (grandmother).[1] 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 as member of the investigation team of war crimes of Serbian forces in Kosovo (1998–1999).[2]

In 2000, Basha joined the Department of Justice of the UN administration of Kosovo,[a] UNMIK, first as legal advisor and then as deputy chief of cabinet of the director of the UNMIK Justice Department since October 2001.[3] From November 2002 until January 2005 Basha served as special advisor for transition in the same department.

Lulzim Basha is married to Aurela Basha a Dutch citizen, and they have two daughters, Victoria and Dafina.

Political career

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Basha joined the Democratic Party of Albania in January 2005 and became a member of the party's leadership in May of that year. He has since held several ministerial positions in Democratic Party-led governments.

Berisha Cabinet (2005–2011)

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Basha with Condoleezza Rice in 2008.

He served as the party's spokesperson during the 2005 parliamentary elections at which he was elected as the MP of Constituency #33 in Tirana.[citation needed] He was then nominated in the Berisha government as Minister of Public Works, Transport and Telecommunications, where he served for two years.

After the 2009 election, Basha was nominated as Ministry of Internal Affairs in the new Berisha government. As Minister of Interior, he implemented all the required criteria for visa-free travel to the Schengen countries, including the modernisation of the Albanian border and immigration police system, the issuing of high security biometric passports and a tougher fight against criminal activity and criminal assets. These steps won international praise, notably by EUROPOL and other law enforcement bodies,[4] and led to the decision of the EU on 8 November 2010 to lift all travel visa requirements for Albanian citizens effective 15 December 2010.[5]

Mayor of Tirana (2011–2015)

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In 2011 Basha was the governing party's candidate for the post of mayor of Tirana. He defeated the leader of the Socialist opposition, Edi Rama, by a very narrow margin (only 81 votes after the recount) in a hotly contested election.

Skanderbeg Square was reconstructed during Basha's Mayorship.

During his term as mayor, Basha vowed to lead big reforms in his first hundred days in office, while promising to make the municipality more accessible to citizens and free of political conflicts.[6]

His main focus was the development of the new strategic urban plan, to increase investments and employment and solve the traffic problems in the city centre.

A draft was presented in May 2012 and it was considered as very important for the future economic development of the city. It was one of the first successes of Basha as mayor of Tirana, but the plan was opposed by the opposition. The new Urban Development Plan proposed a number of measures, primarily with a focus on the road network and, to a smaller degree, on sustainable modes of transport. A tramway system in addition to the bus system was proposed and the plan also included the building of a new boulevard in the northern part of the city and the rehabilitation of the Lanë.[7]

The earlier plan for the Skanderbeg Square was scrapped and a new one introduced. The use of the square by all motor vehicles will be restored through the construction of a narrower road segment around the center of the square including bicycle lanes. The existing green field south of Skanderbeg's statue was extended northward for a few hundred meters, while trees were planted in most places.[citation needed]

In May 2013 the City Hall launched an international tender for the construction of the capital's new northern boulevard, with a length of 1.8 km.[8] The project was expected to be finished before Basha's first mandate as mayor, but after the 2013 parliamentary election, the new Rama Government cut off most of the funds.[citation needed]

Basha didn't run for a second mandate in the 2015 local elections, which were won by the Socialist Party candidate Erion Veliaj.[9]

Leader of the opposition (2013–2022, 2023–2024)

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After the defeat of the Democratic Party-led coalition in the 2013 parliamentary election and the resignation of Sali Berisha as party leader, Basha was elected as chairman of the Democratic Party on 22 July 2013, following the first one-member-one-vote election in party's history.[10][11]

On 30 September 2014, a national congress of the Democratic Party was held to elect a new leadership.[12] In the congress a tough reform of the party was announced by Basha.[citation needed]

Basha during the EPP Congress in Madrid.

During his leadership numerous anti-government demonstrations have been held, accusing the government as corrupt and criminalised. In 2015 the Democratic Party proposed a Decriminalisation Law, which led to several months of negotiations with the government. Finally in December 2015, the law was passed by majority in the Parliament, barring people with criminal convictions from holding public office.[13]

On 11 December 2016 during the celebrations for the 26th anniversary of the Democratic Party, party leader Lulzim Basha announced his program for the further modernization and democratisation of the party ahead of the 2017 parliamentary elections.[citation needed]

After previously promising that 35% of the parliamentary candidates would consist of members from the youth movement of the party, Basha now announced a limitations of all mandates of the party leaders to a two-year term, and the full democratisation of the internal election process.[14]

On 18 February 2017 members of the Democratic Party and other opposition parties, under the leadership of Lulzim Basha pitched a giant tent outside the Prime Minister's office in Tirana after thousands of protesters rallied to demand free elections and a technocrat government. The opposition protest further escalated into a larger political conflict. The Democratic Party and its allies refused to register to take part in the 18 June general election, until the government will accept their conditions to secure a free and democratic election.[15][16]

Following the aftermath of the Democratic Party's defeat in 2021. Which was considered Basha's fourth defeat in Albanian elections. Much debating between the party began after the election. Many wanted Basha to resign and elect a new leader of the Democratic Party. With dismay of some members Basha was reelected against his challenger Agron Shehaj.[17]

Dispute with Sali Berisha and Gazment Bardhi

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Following the United States' decision in Public Designation of Sali Berisha. Lulzim Basha made the decision to expel Berisha from the party.[18] This caused a major split in the party and made Basha unpopular, with many members choosing to side with Berisha and leaving the party. On 11 December 2021 Sali Berisha held an informal congress that voted in favor to remove Lulzim Basha as leader of the party;[19] this, however, was not recognised by the party, with Basha declaring it illegitimate and non-binding.

On 21 March 2022 Lulzim Basha would resign as leader of the Democratic Party of Albania. Which in result caused Enkelejd Alibeaj to become leader of the Democratic Party of Albania.[20]

On 30 July 2023 Basha was reelected controversially as leader of the Democratic Party. Prior to the election, Gazment Bardhi claimed that Basha was trying to seize exclusive power in the party.[21][22][23]

Loss of Logo (11 June 2024)

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On June 11th, 2024 the Court of Appeals voted against Lulzim Basha's claim on the logo and signature of the Democratic Party, giving it to the Reestablishment Group led by Sali Berisha.

Political positions

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EU Integration

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Basha meeting with leaders of the European People's Party during the EPP Summit, March 2015, Brussels.

Basha is a strong supporter of Albania joining the EU.[24][25]

Economy

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During the 2017 Albanian parliamentary election he proposed reinstating the flat tax at a 9% rate.[26] The flat tax was a form of taxation which had been applied by Berisha's government between 2005 and 2013.[27]

Foreign affairs

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In June 2017, Basha met with President Donald Trump during a visit to the US as part of participation in White House Workforce Development week.[28]

Controversies

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Durrës-Kukës highway allegations

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As the Minister of Transportation and Public Works from 2005 to 2007, Basha was responsible for the construction of the Durrës-Kukës highway to Kosovo, the country's largest public work. In connection to this, in October 2007, the Prosecutor's Office accused him of abuse of power and breaking tender rules and claimed these irregularities cost Albanians more than €230 million. Basha asked for his parliamentary immunity to be lifted in order for the justice to conduct a full investigation. Basha's immunity was lifted by parliament at the end of December 2017.[29]The high court later on dismissed the charges.[30][31][32]

References

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  1. ^ "Basha: Unë jam nip Kosove, gjyshi im është larguar nga Drenica prej presionit e masakrave serbe" [Basha: I am a grandson of Kosovo, my grandfather left Drenica due to the pressure of Serbian massacres]. Drenica Press (in Albanian). 13 November 2020. Archived from the original on 29 June 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2020. Unë jam nip Kosove, gjyshi im është nga Mitrovica e gjyshja nga Gjilani
  2. ^ "Albania pins its hopes on youthful government". Kosovareport. Reuters. 8 September 2005. Retrieved 24 December 2007.
  3. ^ "Kush është Lulzim Basha?" [Who is Lulzim Basha?] (in Albanian). Albeu.com. 1 April 2011. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
  4. ^ "Shefi i Europol: Me mbresa nga progresi i Shqipërisë". Archived from the original on 3 September 2017. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  5. ^ "Visa Liberalisation enters into force in December 2010". Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  6. ^ "Lulzim Basha Sworn in as Tirana Mayor". 26 July 2011.
  7. ^ "New Urban Development Plan of Tirana sets direction for road network development (Albania) - Eltis". eltis.org. Archived from the original on 19 February 2017. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  8. ^ Times, Tirana (31 May 2013). "City Hall launches international tender for Tirana new north boulevard". Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  9. ^ "Erion Veliaj takes office as Mayor of Tirana". Archived from the original on 1 August 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  10. ^ "Basha Elected Head of Albania's Democrats :: Balkan Insight". balkaninsight.com. 23 July 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  11. ^ Times, Tirana (26 July 2013). "Basha elected new Democratic Party leader". Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  12. ^ albania-opposition-party-elects-new-leadership
  13. ^ "Albania MPs to Vote on 'Decriminalising Politics' :: Balkan Insight". balkaninsight.com. 25 November 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  14. ^ "Basha Announces Thorough Reform of PD - Exit". 11 December 2016. Archived from the original on 24 September 2017. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  15. ^ "Albanian protesters rally, pitch tent to demand free elections". Reuters. 18 February 2017.
  16. ^ "Albania Opposition Parties to Boycott June Elections". Balkan Insight. 11 April 2017. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  17. ^ "Agron Shehaj challenges Lulzim Basha, runs for Democratic Party chairman: New vision and direction needed". politiko.al. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  18. ^ "Zyrtare, Basha përjashton Berishën nga PD" (in Albanian). Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  19. ^ "Kuvendi i thirrur nga Berisha, shkarkon Bashën dhe Kryesinë e PD". Euronews Albania. 11 December 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  20. ^ Kraja, Gresa (21 March 2022). "Lulzim Basha jep dorëheqje nga kreu i PD-së". Radio Evropa e Lirë (in Albanian). Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  21. ^ "DP Chairman Elections, Bardhi's Sends Case to Court". Albania Daily News. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  22. ^ "Analyst: Alibeaj's resignation can bring back Lulzim Basha". politiko.al. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  23. ^ "Will Lulzim Basha return? Alibeaj reveals how the truth lies". sot.com.al. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  24. ^ "Basha discusses EU integration with EPP President Daul". 5 December 2017.
  25. ^ "EPP - European People's Party".
  26. ^ "Basha in Has: "My first decision as PM, flat tax and reducing VAT"".
  27. ^ "Albanian opposition demands the return of the flat tax". 8 August 2018. Archived from the original on 26 August 2018. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  28. ^ Shera, Urim (14 June 2017). "Basha: Extraordinary meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump". Archived from the original on 18 September 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  29. ^ "Albania '230 Million New Loan For Highway". Balkan Insight. 24 April 2008.
  30. ^ Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2009. Government Printing Office. p. 1220.
  31. ^ "Albania-Kosovo Highway Case Kicked Out". Balkan Insight. 10 April 2009.
  32. ^ Elsie, Robert (2010). Historical Dictionary of Albania. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 36. ISBN 978-0-8108-6188-6.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lulzim Basha.
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Foreign Affairs
2007–2009 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister of the Interior
2009–2011 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Mayor of Tirana
2011–2015 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Leader of the Opposition
2013–2022, 2023–2024 		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Leader of the Democratic Party
2013–2022, 2023–2024 		Succeeded by
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