Albania’s parliament elects army chief president

• Bajram Begaj was elected in voting by 78 of the parliament’s 140 deputies.
• Albania has been a member of NATO since 2009.
• President will be able to appoint three of the country’s nine court members.

Albania’s parliament elected the country’s military chief to the largely ceremonial office of president on Saturday.

Bajram Begaj resigns as chief of staff of the armed forces after being elected to the office.

Despite the fact that parliament holds the most political power in Albania, President Begaj will be able to appoint three of the country’s nine constitutional court members.

And while he resigned from his military post just before parliament elected him to the presidency, in his new role he becomes commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

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Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama nominated 55-year-old Begaj for president and he was elected in the fourth round of voting by 78 of the parliament’s 140 deputies.

He will start his five-year term of office when his predecessor Ilir Meta, a fierce critic of the government, steps down on July 24.

Begaj studied medicine, joined the army, and held several positions before being named to the top military position in July 2020.

Albania has been a member of NATO since 2009 and is currently applying for membership in the European Union.

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