Etilda Gjonaj (born May 6, 1981) is an Albanian politician, lawyer, and professor. She served as Minister of Justice of Albania.

Early life

Etilda Gjonaj was born Etilda Saliu in Pukë, Albania on 6 May 1981. In 2003, Gjonaj graduated from the Faculty of Law of the

University of Tirana The University of Tirana ( sq, Universiteti i Tiranës, abbreviated UT) is a public university located at the central borough of Tirana 10 in Tirana, Albania. It was established as the ''State University of Tirana'' in 1957 through merging of f ...

. She was admitted as an attorney the next year. In 2011, Gjonaj received a

Master's degree A master's degree (from Latin ) is an academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice.

in criminal science from the

. Gjonaj also lectured at the University of Tirana prior to taking public office.

Political career

On 10 April 2014, the

Parliament of Albania The Parliament of Albania ( sq, Kuvendi i Shqipërisë) or Kuvendi is the unicameral representative body of the citizens of the Republic of Albania; it is Albania's legislature. The Parliament is composed of no less than 140 members elected to ...

appointed Gjonaj to a three-year term as one of the three commissioners of the Office of the People's Advocate. She served in this role until April 2017, alongside Arben Shkembi and Ermir Kapedani. On 22 May 2017, Gjonaj was appointed the Deputy Minister of Justice. In August 2017,

Prime Minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister i ...

Edi Rama Edi Rama (born Edvin Kristaq Rama, 4 July 1964) is an Albanian politician, painter, writer, former university lecturer, publicist and former basketball player, who has served as the 33rd and current Prime Minister of Albania since 2013 and chair ...

announced that he was appointing Gjonaj as the minister of justice. Gjonaj is a member of the

Socialist Party Socialist Party is the name of many different political parties around the world. All of these parties claim to uphold some form of socialism, though they may have very different interpretations of what "socialism" means. Statistically, most of t ...

Personal life

Gjonaj is married to Irvelin Gjonaj. They have one son.

References

1981 births Living people 21st-century Albanian women politicians 21st-century Albanian politicians People from Pukë University of Tirana alumni Socialist Party of Albania politicians Government ministers of Albania Women government ministers of Albania Justice ministers of Albania Female justice ministers {{Albania-politician-stub