First Lady of Albania
First Lady of Albania (Albanian: Zonja e Parë) is the unofficial title of the spouse of the sitting president of Albania.
| First Lady of Albania | |
|---|---|
Incumbent Era Meta since 24 July 2017 | |
| Style | Ms. Meta |
| Residence | Presidential Palace of Tirana |
| Inaugural holder | Liri Berisha (de facto) |
| Formation | 30 April 1991 |
| Website | First Lady of Albania |
History
The royal consorts of Albania were the spouses of the Albanian monarchs. They used the titles "Queen of the Albanians", "Queen of Albania", "Princess of Albania", "Lady of the Kingdom of Albania", etc.
On 21 April 1451 in an Eastern Orthodox Ardenica Monastery, George Kastrioti Skanderbeg married Donika Kastrioti, daughter of Gjergj Arianiti, one of the most influential Albanian noblemen.
On 28 November 1912, Albania declared its independence, Ismail Qemali's Greek wife, Kleoniqi Sumerli was dead before he became the first head and prime minister of Albania.[1]
The Principality of Albania was established on February 21, 1914 the consort of Prince William of Wied, Princess Sophie of Schönburg-Waldenburg became the princess of Albania. Outside the country and in diplomatic correspondence, she was styled "Princess Consort", but in Albania he was referred to as Mbretëreshë, or Queen.
On 27 April 1938 Géraldine Apponyi de Nagyappony married the King Zog I and became the queen consort of the Albanians from 27 April 1938 to 7 April 1939.
In 1939 after Italian invasion of Albania, the royal wife of Victor Emmanuel III of Italy and Albania, Elena of Montenegro became the queen of Albania from 16 April 1939 to 8 September 1943.
Role of the first lady
The first lady is not an elected position, carries no official duties and brings no salary. Nonetheless, she participates in humanitarian and charitable work. Furthermore, many have taken an active role in campaigning for the president with whom they are associated. She accompanies the President in state and official visits abroad.
Incidents
In April 2005 during the Funeral of Pope John Paul II, the prime minister Fatos Nano tried to replace the president's daughter Mirela Moisiu with his new wife, Xhoana Nano. Prime Minister Nano tried to usurp for his wife the "First Lady" title, forcing members of the Council of Ministers to sign a white document.[2]
First ladies of Albania (1925–1928 & 1991–present)
| No. | Name | Term Begins | Term Ends | President of Albania |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Office vacant (Queen Geraldine was to marry Zog I a decade later) | 1 February 1925 | 1 September 1928 | Ahmet Zogu |
| 2nd | Office vacant (Alia's wife, Semiramis Xhuvani predeceased him) | 30 April 1991 | 3 April 1992 | Ramiz Alia |
| 3rd | Lirie Ramaj | 9 April 1992 | 24 July 1997 | Sali Berisha |
| 4th | Lidra Karagjozi | 24 July 1997 | 24 July 2002 | Rexhep Meidani |
| 5th | Mirela Moisiu (daughter took the office) | 24 July 2002 | 24 July 2007 | Alfred Moisiu |
| 6th | Teuta Mema | 24 July 2007 | 24 July 2012 | Bamir Topi |
| 7th | Odeta Kosova | 24 July 2012 | 24 July 2017 | Bujar Nishani |
| 8th | Bora Meta (daughter took the office) | 24 July 2017 | Incumbent | Ilir Meta |
- Not included the wife or husband of the speaker of the Parliament of Albania who had held office temporarily as acting president of Albania.
External links
- Kush janë gratë e presidentëve të Shqipërisë dhe kush mbetën të ve. Rrëfimet e grave dhe fotot, NOA, 2012-06-17(in Albanian)
References
- Roland Qafoku: Gruaja e Ismail Qemalit Kleoniqi Sumerli, e veja nga fisnikët e Greqisë, Gazeta Metropol (in Albanian)
- Nano kunder Moisiut, lufta ne nivel femeror, Revista Klan (in Albanian)