Sali Berisha | |
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President of Albania | |
In office 9 April 1992 – 24 July 1997 | |
Prime Minister | Vilson Ahmeti Aleksandër Meksi Bashkim Fino |
Preceded by | Ramiz Alia |
Succeeded by | Rexhep Meidani |
32nd Prime Minister of Albania | |
In office 8 September 2005 – 11 September 2013 | |
President | Alfred Moisiu Bamir Topi Bujar Nishani |
Deputy | Ilir Rusmali Gazmend Oketa Genc Pollo Ilir Meta Edmond Haxhinasto Myqerem Tafaj |
Preceded by | Fatos Nano |
Succeeded by | Edi Rama |
Leader of the Democratic Party | |
Assumed office 22 May 2022 | |
Preceded by | Lulzim Basha |
In office July 1997 – June 2013 | |
Preceded by | Tritan Shehu |
Succeeded by | Lulzim Basha |
In office 1990–1992 | |
Preceded by | Position established |
Succeeded by | Eduard Selami |
Leader of the Opposition | |
Assumed office 22 May 2022 | |
Preceded by | Lulzim Basha |
In office 1997–2005 | |
Preceded by | Fatos Nano |
Succeeded by | Edi Rama |
In office 1991–1992 | |
Preceded by | Position established |
Succeeded by | Fatos Nano |
Personal details | |
Born | Sali Ram Berisha 15 October 1944 Tropojë, Albania |
Political party | Party of Labour (1968–1990) Democratic Party (1990–present) |
Spouse | |
Children | 2 |
Education | University of Tirana (MD) |
Signature | |
Website | sali-berisha.com |
Sali Ram Berisha (Albanian: [saˈli bɛˈɾiʃa] ; born 15 October 1944) is an Albanian cardiologist and conservative politician who served as the president of Albania from 1992 to 1997 and as the 32nd prime minister of Albania from 2005 to 2013. Berisha has served as Chairman of the Democratic Party of Albania since 2022. He has previously held the position of Chairman from 1990 to 1992 and 1997 to 2013. He is the leader of opposition in Albania.
He has been barred from entering the United States and the United Kingdom, being accused of "involvement in significant corruption" and links to organised crime groups and criminals that pose a "risk to public safety in Albania".
On 9 September 2021, Berisha was expelled by party chairman Lulzim Basha from the Democratic Party's Parliamentary Group due to legal issues with the US Department of State.[1] This decision led to 79-year-old Berisha starting a nation-wide movement to remove Basha as leader of the Democratic Party, causing a major rift in the party's internal structures, between Berisha's and Basha's supporters.
On 30 December 2023, Berisha was placed under house arrest due to alleged corruption during his term as Prime Minister.[2]