Manush Myftiu (16 January 1919 – 20 October 1997) was an
Albanian
Albanian may refer to:
*Pertaining to Albania in Southeast Europe; in particular:
**Albanians, an ethnic group native to the Balkans
**Albanian language
**Albanian culture
**Demographics of Albania, includes other ethnic groups within the country ...
politician during the country's
socialist period. He served in a number of positions, most recently as the
deputy prime minister
A deputy prime minister or vice prime minister is, in some countries, a government minister who can take the position of acting prime minister when the prime minister is temporarily absent. The position is often likened to that of a vice president, ...
.
Early life
Myftiu was born in
Vlora to a family of Albanian Muslim landowners. In 1939 he graduated from a Classical Lycée in Rome and while in his hometown joined a communist cell. From 1940 to 1941 he studied at the Medical Faculty of the
University of Turin
The University of Turin (Italian: ''Università degli Studi di Torino'', UNITO) is a public research university in the city of Turin, in the Piedmont region of Italy. It is one of the oldest universities in Europe and continues to play an impo ...
but did not complete his studies, returning to Vlora where he was obliged to join the Albanian Fascist Youth. While a member of it he simultaneously remained a member of a communist cell, carrying out clandestine activities against fascism and becoming a member of the
Communist Party of Albania (from 1948 the Party of Labour of Albania) after it was founded. During the war he became Commissar of the Fifth Partisan Brigade, commissar of the First Combat Division, and was attached to the Fifth and Eighth Brigades of the First Army Corps.
During the war he served as a member of the Vlora District Party Committee.
Political career
After the war, Myftiu was active in the Communist political structure and became a protégé of
Mehmet Shehu
Mehmet Ismail Shehu (January 10, 1913 – December 18, 1981) was an Albanian communist politician who served as the 23rd Prime Minister of Albania from 1954 to 1981. As an acknowledged military tactician, without whose leadership the communist p ...
.
From 1947 to 1949, he served as Chair of the
People's Assembly 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 a ...
.
He then served as Minister without portfolio from 1949 to 1950.
In November 1948, he became a member of the central committee of the
Party of Labour of Albania
The Party of Labour of Albania ( sq, Partia e Punës e Shqipërisë, PPSh), sometimes referred to as the Albanian Workers' Party (AWP), was the ruling and sole legal party of Albania during the communist period (1945–1991). It was founded o ...
.
He remained a member of the central committee until it was disbanded when the party transitioned into the
Socialist Party of Albania
The Socialist Party of Albania ( sq, Partia Socialiste e Shqipërisë, PS or PSSh) is a social-democratic political party in Albania. It has been described as centre-left, to left-wing. It was founded on 13 June 1991. The PS is an associate of t ...
.
From May 1950 to April 1951, he served as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.
On 4 July 1950, Myftiu was appointed President of the Control Commission. He served in this position until 5 March 1951, replaced by
Mehmet Shehu
Mehmet Ismail Shehu (January 10, 1913 – December 18, 1981) was an Albanian communist politician who served as the 23rd Prime Minister of Albania from 1954 to 1981. As an acknowledged military tactician, without whose leadership the communist p ...
.
On 5 March 1951, Myftiu was made a
vice-premier and replaced
Manol Konomi
The Manol River is a river in Alt Empordà, Catalonia, Spain. It is a seasonal river, and a tributary of the Muga. An emblematic bird of the river is the European bee-eater (Merops apiaster), a migratory bird that overwinters in tropical Africa. ...
as the
Minister of Justice
A justice ministry, ministry of justice, or department of justice is a ministry or other government agency in charge of the administration of justice. The ministry or department is often headed by a minister of justice (minister for justice in a v ...
as part of a series of changes to the cabinet.
He held this post until 6 September 1951, when he was dismissed and replaced by
Bilbil Klosi
Bilbil Klosi (25 January 1915 – 22 November 1978) was an Albanian politician and public prosecutor during the Communist Albania period. Among other duties, he served as Minister of Justice from 1951 to 1966.
Klosi was born in the village of Kl ...
as part of a cabinet reshuffle.
On 11 April 1952, it was announced that Myftiu was dismissed as vice-premier. On 12 July 1954, following a reorganization of the
Party of Labour of Albania
The Party of Labour of Albania ( sq, Partia e Punës e Shqipërisë, PPSh), sometimes referred to as the Albanian Workers' Party (AWP), was the ruling and sole legal party of Albania during the communist period (1945–1991). It was founded o ...
, Myftiu and
Josif Pashko
Josif Pashko (May 25, 1918 - September 5, 1963) was an Albanian politician during the country's socialist period.
Biography
Josif Pashko was born into a peasant family in the village of Vodica, Kolonja. In 1938 he graduated from the Normal Schoo ...
were replaced in their party posts by
Gogo Nushi
Gogo Nushi (February 15, 1913 – December 4, 1970) was an Albanian people, Albanian political figure who served in a number of positions in Albania during its Socialist Albania, socialist period.
Biography
Nushi was born into a Greeks, Greek ...
and
Liri Belishova
Liri Belishova (14 October 1926 – 23 April 2018) was an Albanian politician. She was a member of the Politburo of the Party of Labour of Albania and an important political figure in Albania between 1944 and 1960.
Life
Born in the village of ...
. On 20 July 1954, Myftiu became vice-premier once again.
He became a candidate member of the
Politburo
A politburo () or political bureau is the executive committee for communist parties. It is present in most former and existing communist states.
Names
The term "politburo" in English comes from the Russian ''Politbyuro'' (), itself a contraction ...
in 1952, and a full member of the Politburo from 1956 to 1990.
From 1956 to 1958, Myftiu served as
Minister of Health A health minister is the member of a country's government typically responsible for protecting and promoting public health and providing welfare and other social security services.
Some governments have separate ministers for mental health.
Coun ...
.
From 1958 to 1965, he served as
Minister of Education.
From 1966 to 1976, he was First Secretary of the
Tirana
Tirana ( , ; aln, Tirona) is the capital and largest city of Albania. It is located in the centre of the country, enclosed by mountains and hills with Dajti rising to the east and a slight valley to the northwest overlooking the Adriatic Sea ...
District Party Committee.
From 1976 to 1990, he served as deputy prime minister.
Later life
On 2 July 1994, Myftiu was sentenced to five years in prison on the charge of abusing his powers during his time in office, but was released on account of his advanced age.
References
Additional References
* Elsie, Robert. ''A Biographical Dictionary of Albanian History''. London: I.B. Tauris. 2012. p. 324.
* Skendi, Stavro (ed). ''Albania''. New York: Frederick A. Praeger. 1956. pp. 334–335.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Myftiu, Manush
1919 births
1997 deaths
People from Vlorë
Labour Party of Albania politicians
Members of the Politburo of the Labour Party of Albania
Candidate members of the Politburo of the Labour Party of Albania
Government ministers of Albania
Deputy Prime Ministers of Albania
Education ministers of Albania
Speakers of the Parliament of Albania
Members of the Parliament of Albania
Communism in Albania
Albanian anti-fascists
Albanian resistance members
Health ministers of Albania
Ministers without portfolio of Albania
State auditors of Albania
Albanian expatriates in Italy