Ilir Meta
Encyclopedia
Ilir Rexhep Meta is an Albanian
politician
. He is the current Deputy Prime Minister. He was Prime Minister of Albania from 1999 to 2002 and has been Foreign minister
twice since then.
, Meta was a member of the leadership of the student movement which played a role in the democratic transition of Albania. Since 1992 he was a member of the Socialist Party
Leading Council; between 1995 and 2001 Meta was chairman of the Euro-Socialist Youth Forum of Albania, FRESSH, member of the Socialist Youth International
.
Meta entered the Parliament of Albania first in 1992, being always re-elected since then. In 1996-1997 he chaired the Foreign Policy Parliamentary Commission, and was then named deputy prime minister and state secretary for integration in the first government of Pandeli Majko
.
, Meta was named prime minister of Albania. He held the post through the 24 June 2001 elections
, resigning on 22 February 2002. He subsequently served as foreign minister
in the second government of Pandeli Majko
from July 2002 to July 2003. He was involved in severe political confrontation with Fatos Nano
.
As prime minister, he was mainly responsible for the final privatization of the industrial system that remained in place after 1991, which triggered accusations of allegiance to suspicious businessmen and involvement in drug trafficking. His first resignation and the withdrawal as foreign minister came after he was discredited after the arrest of traffickers who had received his protection.
and created his own political party, the Socialist Movement for Integration
.
, the coalition led by the Socialist Movement for Integration
, called the Alliance for Integration, won four seats in the new parliament. Soon after, an offer for collaboration was extended by Prime Minister Sali Berisha
of the Democratic Party of Albania
(his former opposant) after which Ilir Meta was appointed to the post of Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs in the new government. He lost his post as foreign minister
in a cabinet reshuffle in September 2010 and became Minister of Economy, Trade and Energy.
He resigned as minister of Economy, Trade and Energy on 14 January 2011 following the publication of a video, filmed secretly in March 2010, where he is shown pressuring Dritan Prifti (the then Minister of Economy, Trade and Energy), to fix the tender for a hydroelectric power plant, in return for which both Prifti and Meta would benefit financially.
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He is the current Deputy Prime Minister. He was Prime Minister of Albania from 1999 to 2002 and has been Foreign minister
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
twice since then.
Studies
Meta graduated from the Faculty of Economy, Political Economy branch, of Tirana University.MP of the Socialist Party (1992)
In the early 1990s1990s
File:1990s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: The Hubble Space Telescope floats in space after it was taken up in 1990; American F-16s and F-15s fly over burning oil fields and the USA Lexie in Operation Desert Storm, also known as the 1991 Gulf War; The signing of the Oslo Accords on...
, Meta was a member of the leadership of the student movement which played a role in the democratic transition of Albania. Since 1992 he was a member of the Socialist Party
Socialist Party
Socialist Party is the name of several different political parties around the world that are explicitly called Socialist. All of these parties claim to uphold socialism, though they might belong to different branches of the socialist movement and might therefore have different interpretations of...
Leading Council; between 1995 and 2001 Meta was chairman of the Euro-Socialist Youth Forum of Albania, FRESSH, member of the Socialist Youth International
Socialist Youth International
Socialist Youth International was an international union of socialist youth organisations. It was founded in Hamburg 1923, through the merger of the Young Workers' International and the International Community of Socialist Youth Organisations...
.
Meta entered the Parliament of Albania first in 1992, being always re-elected since then. In 1996-1997 he chaired the Foreign Policy Parliamentary Commission, and was then named deputy prime minister and state secretary for integration in the first government of Pandeli Majko
Pandeli Majko
Pandeli Majko was Prime Minister of Albania from 1998 to 1999 and for a short time in 2002.He graduated at the University of Tirana, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, and later in Law.- MP of the Socialist Party :...
.
Prime minister (1999-2002) and foreign minister (2002-2003)
In 1999, following the resignation of Pandeli MajkoPandeli Majko
Pandeli Majko was Prime Minister of Albania from 1998 to 1999 and for a short time in 2002.He graduated at the University of Tirana, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, and later in Law.- MP of the Socialist Party :...
, Meta was named prime minister of Albania. He held the post through the 24 June 2001 elections
Albanian parliamentary election, 2001
Parliamentary elections were held in Albania on 24 June 2001. The result was a victory for the ruling Socialist Party of Albania, which won 73 of the 140 seats, resulting in Ilir Meta remaining Prime Minister...
, resigning on 22 February 2002. He subsequently served as foreign minister
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
in the second government of Pandeli Majko
Pandeli Majko
Pandeli Majko was Prime Minister of Albania from 1998 to 1999 and for a short time in 2002.He graduated at the University of Tirana, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, and later in Law.- MP of the Socialist Party :...
from July 2002 to July 2003. He was involved in severe political confrontation with Fatos Nano
Fatos Nano
Fatos Thanas Nano is an Albanian economist who was Prime Minister of Albania during several periods, the first leader of the Socialist Party of Albania, and member of the Albanian Parliament from 1991 to 1996 and 1997 to 2009...
.
As prime minister, he was mainly responsible for the final privatization of the industrial system that remained in place after 1991, which triggered accusations of allegiance to suspicious businessmen and involvement in drug trafficking. His first resignation and the withdrawal as foreign minister came after he was discredited after the arrest of traffickers who had received his protection.
Founder of the Socialist Movement for Integration (2004)
In 2004 he quit the Socialist Party of AlbaniaSocialist 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...
and created his own political party, the Socialist Movement for Integration
Socialist Movement for Integration
The Socialist Movement for Integration is a social democratic Albanian political party. It was formed in 2004 after Ilir Meta quit the Socialist Party of Albania.At the elections in July 2005 the party won five seats in the Parliament...
.
Foreign and Economy minister of Berisha's government (2009-2010)
In the parliamentary election of June 2009Albanian parliamentary election, 2009
A parliamentary election was held in Albania on 28 June 2009. Prior to the election, the electoral law was changed to a regional and proportional system...
, the coalition led by the Socialist Movement for Integration
Socialist Movement for Integration
The Socialist Movement for Integration is a social democratic Albanian political party. It was formed in 2004 after Ilir Meta quit the Socialist Party of Albania.At the elections in July 2005 the party won five seats in the Parliament...
, called the Alliance for Integration, won four seats in the new parliament. Soon after, an offer for collaboration was extended by Prime Minister 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 ....
of the Democratic Party of Albania
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...
(his former opposant) after which Ilir Meta was appointed to the post of Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs in the new government. He lost his post as foreign minister
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
in a cabinet reshuffle in September 2010 and became Minister of Economy, Trade and Energy.
He resigned as minister of Economy, Trade and Energy on 14 January 2011 following the publication of a video, filmed secretly in March 2010, where he is shown pressuring Dritan Prifti (the then Minister of Economy, Trade and Energy), to fix the tender for a hydroelectric power plant, in return for which both Prifti and Meta would benefit financially.