Kemal Vrioni (1885–1952) was an Albanian political figure of the 1930s and 1940s.

Biography

Kemal Vrioni was a member of the

Vrioni family The Vrioni family ( Ottoman Turkish: ''Viryon Zâdeler'') is one of the great Albanian aristocratic families and one of the biggest landowners of Albania, otherwise known as "Konaqe" or "Oxhaqe", among which the most important are: Vrioni of Berat ...

, a major landowning family from the Ottoman cast. He was the main landowner in the Fier region. Born in Fier in 1885. He studied economics public administration in

Istanbul Istanbul ( , ; tr, İstanbul ), formerly known as Constantinople ( grc-gre, Κωνσταντινούπολις; la, Constantinopolis), is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, serving as the country's economic, ...

.
Qemal Vrioni was a participant at the

Congress of Durrës The Congress of Durrës () was a conference of Albanian political leaders, held from December 25 to December 27, 1918, in Durrës, at the time capital of the Principality of Albania. Mehmet Konica was the Chairman of the Congress, which aimed a ...

in December 1918. He was Assemblyman of Albanian Parliament during 1921-1928. He was involved in the anti- Zogist Uprising of Fier in 1935. Unlike other organizers like

Costa Chekrezi Costa Chekrezi (31 March 1892 – 10 January 1959), also known as Constantin Anastas Chekrezi ( sq, Kostandin Çekrezi) was an Albanian patriot, historian, and publicist. Biography Chekrezi was born on 31 March 1892 in Ziçisht village, in the U ...

, Musa Kranja, or Xhevahir Arapi who fled the country or were severely punished, he managed to come out unharmed. In 1938-1939 he was appointed in charge of ''SITA'', an Italian corporation operating in Albania in the field of electrical equipment and infrastructure. He would be replaced later by

Salih Bey Vuçitërni Salih (; ar, صَالِحٌ, Ṣāliḥ, lit=Pious), also spelled Saleh (), is an Arab prophet mentioned in the Quran who prophesied to the tribe of Thamud in ancient Arabia, before the lifetime of Muhammad. The story of Salih is linked to the ...

. In 1940, during the Italian Occupation he took over the direction of the ''Tomorri'' newspaper, a fascist media which succeeded ''Fashizmi'' (Fascism). He was Minister of Finance in the government of

Shefqet Vërlaci Shefqet bey Vërlaci (; 15 December 1877, Elbasan, Manastir Vilayet, Ottoman Empire – 21 July 1946, Zürich, Switzerland), also known as Shevket Verlaci, was an Albanian politician and wealthy landowner. Biography In 1922, Vërlaci was the b ...

of 1940 succeeding Fejzi Alizoti. At the end of World War II he was arrested by the Albanian Partisans, proceeded at the Special Court of Spring 1945 which handled many previous politicians at that time. He was initially sentenced to death as "war criminal" and "enemy of the people", but later the charge was changed to prison time. According to Elsie, he died in

Burrel prison Burrel Prison () is a high security prison located outside the town of Burrel, in northeastern Albania at the District Police Station in Mat with a maximum capacity of 198 inmates. In 2011 the prison housed 182 inmates and employed 120 correction ...

in 1946. According to Aliko, he was condemned to 10 years of imprisonment, and released in 1952, being persecuted ever after. All the properties and estates were confiscated. Vrioni was accused during the 1920s for brutal behavior towards his estates' peasants, including driving them out of his land and burning their homes. He was unsuccessfully brought to court for that.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vrioni, Qemal Bey 1885 births 1946 deaths People from Fier Albanians from the Ottoman Empire 19th-century Albanian politicians 20th-century Albanian politicians Qemal Government ministers of Albania Finance ministers of Albania

Biography

See also

References