1st Legislature of Albania

First legislature of the Albanian state (1920) 1st Legislature of Albania sq Legjislatura e 1-rë e Shqipërisë National Council (Senate) Unicameral Këshilli Kombëtar Albania 27 March 1920 20 December 1920 None (first legislature) 2nd Legislature Chairman Xhemal Naipi 37 (rising to 41 with substitutions) Tirana The 1st Legislature of Albania (sq Legjislatura e 1-rë e Shqipërisë) was the first legislative term of the Albanian parliament, embodied in the National Council (sq Këshilli Kombëtar), also referred to as the Senate (sq Senati). It was established by the Congress of Lushnjë and sat from 27 March 1920 to 20 December 1920, with its seat in the newly designated capital of Tirana. It is generally regarded as the beginning of the history of parliamentarism in Albania. Background Following the end of World War I, Albania faced the threat of partition among its neighbours, as well as the military presence of mainly Italian and secondarily French forces and a pro-Italian government based in Durrës. Between 21 and 31 January 1920, Albanian political leaders convened the Congress of Lushnjë, which declared the Government of Durrës invalid and formed a new cabinet under Sulejman Delvina. The new state structure consisted of the High Council (sq Këshilli i Lartë), a four-member regency acting as collective head of state, and the National Council, which functioned as the parliament. The idea of an Albanian legislative body dated back to the Congress of Durrës of December 1918, which had envisaged a "Council of Elders" (sq Pleqësia) functioning as a senate. However, due to internal divisions this body never convened, and the failure was among the reasons for the dismissal of the Government of Durrës in January 1920. Composition The National Council consisted of 37 members elected directly by the delegates of the Congress of Lushnjë, and held a temporary mandate to last until general elections could be organised. Through substitutions and members sworn in at later sessions, a total of 41 individuals served during the term. The Council met for the first time on 27 March 1920 in Tirana. The opening session was chaired by Mytesim Këlliçi until, through a vote, Xhemal Naipi was elected as the 1st Chairman of the National Council. Naipi exercised the functions of chairman from 29 March 1920 to 27 May 1920. Members + Members of the National Council (Senate), 1920 No. Member Notes 1 Abdurahman Krosi (Mati) Also known as "Abdurahim Mati" and "Abdurahman Salih". 2 Adem Gjinishi 3 Adem Peqini 4 Ahmet Resuli 5 Bajram Curri 6 Bektash Cakrani 7 Beqir bej Rusi 8 Dine Dibra Also known as "Dine Maqellara". 9 Dine Dema 10 Dhimitër Kacimbra 11 Fazlli Frashëri Elected deputy for Korçë on 30 March 1920 in place of Qani Dishnica; sworn in on 19 April 1920. 12 Gjergj Koleci 13 Hafiz Sabri bej 14 Halim Çela Sworn in on 4 May 1920. 15 Hilë Mosi 16 Hysen Vrioni Sworn in on 1 April 1920. 17 Irfan Ohri 18 Kiço Koçi 19 Kolë Thaçi Sworn in at the 46th session of the National Council, 25 September 1920. 20 Kostaq (Koço) Kota 21 Llambi Goxhomani 22 Myqerem Hamzaraj 23 Mytesim Këlliçi 24 Neki Ruli 25 Osman Lita Sworn in at the 37th session of the National Council, 18 May 1920. 26 Qani Dishnica Resigned for health reasons. 27 Qazim Durmishi Sworn in on 23 September 1920. 28 Qazim Koculi 29 Ramiz Daci 30 Rexhep Mitrovica 31 Sadullah Tepelena 32 Sejfi Vllamasi 33 Spiro Jorgo Koleka 34 Spiro (Pilo) Papa 35 Shefqet Vërlaci 36 Thimi Çikozi 37 Veli Kruja 38 Visarion Xhuvani 39 Xhemal Naipi 40 Xhemal Shkodra (Bushati) 41 Ymer Shijaku Legislative activity Although the first Albanian legislature carried out its work over a short period, it passed several important laws. During this term the principles of parliamentarism were affirmed for the first time, including the appointment and dismissal of the government by the Council and the exercise of parliamentary control over it. The most important act was the Statute of Lushnja, a constitutional law approved at the Congress of Lushnjë on 31 January 1920 and widely regarded as the first constitution of the Albanian state. Another significant measure was a new electoral law passed on 5 December 1920, which established an indirect electoral system with two rounds: in the first round, based on the administrative division of the districts of Albania, every 500 men would elect a delegate, who in the second round would help elect a total of 75 members of the National Council—roughly one member for every 12,000 eligible voters. This electoral law paved the way for the creation of the first two Albanian political parties: the Popular Party (sq Partia Popullore), led by Fan Noli, and the Progressive Party (sq Partia Përparimtare), led by Hoxhë Kadriu and Shefqet Vërlaci. Dissolution The legislative activity of the National Council ended on 20 December 1920, when the Council was dissolved to make way for the first elections in Albania, held on 21 April 1921. The succeeding legislature saw the country represented by 78 deputies. See also Congress of Lushnjë Parliament of Albania History of Albania References Parliament of Albania Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_Albania 27 June 2026 Congress of Lushnjë Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congress_of_Lushnj%C3%AB 27 June 2026 Xhemal Naipi Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xhemal_Naipi 27 June 2026 History of Albanian Parliamentarism Embassy of the Republic of Albania https://ambasadat.gov.al/usa/en/historiku-i-parlamentarizmit-shqiptar/ 27 June 2026 31 January 1920, "The Statute of Lushnja" or the first Albanian Constitution Qendra Mbarëkombëtare e Koleksionistëve Shqiptarë https://www.qmksh.al/en/31-janar-1920-u-miratua-statuti-i-lushnjes-ose-kushtetuta-e-pare-shqiptare/ 27 June 2026 Albania – Parliament IPU Parline https://data.ipu.org/parliament/AL/AL-LC01/ 27 June 2026 Bisedime parlamentare, 1920–1921, pp. 12, 33. Elected deputy for Korçë on 30 March 1920 in place of Qani Dishnica; sworn in on 19 April 1920. Bisedime parlamentare, 1920, p. 59. Sworn in on 4 May 1920. Bisedime parlamentare, 1920, p. 14. Sworn in on 1 April 1920. Bisedime parlamentare, 1920–1921, p. 85. Sworn in at the 46th session, 25 September 1920. Bisedime parlamentare, 1920, p. 67. Sworn in at the 37th session, 18 May 1920. Bisedime parlamentare, 1920–1921, p. 12. Resigned for health reasons. Bisedime parlamentare, 1920–1921, p. 81. Sworn in on 23 September 1920. Category:Legislatures of Albania Category:1920 establishments in Albania Category:1920 disestablishments in Albania Category:1920 in Albania Category:History of Albania