Socialist Party of Albania
Template:Short description Template:Infobox political party
The Socialist Party of Albania (Template:Langx, PSSh), also known as simply the Socialist Party (Template:Langx, PS), is a social-democratic centre-left political party in Albania. It is the successor to the Party of Labour of Albania, which reconstituted itself under its current name on 13 June 1991 after the fall of communism in an effort to adapt to the new political landscape.<ref>Elsie, Robert (2010), Historical Dictionary of Albania. Scarecrow Press. p. 422.</ref> It has been the country’s Governing Party since 2013. The Socialist Party is one of the two major parties in Albanian politics along with the Democratic Party. The PS is an associate of the Party of European Socialists<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and a member of the Socialist International.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=aeob13>Template:Cite journal</ref>
History
Established in 1991, the Socialist Party of Albania emerged in the aftermath of the fall of communism in Albania that had dominated Albanian politics since the end of World War II. The dissolution of the People's Socialist Republic prompted a reevaluation of political ideologies and a quest for democratic governance, paving the way for the rise of multiple political entities. The roots of the Socialist Party can be traced back to the Party of Labour of Albania under its founder Enver Hoxha, which had been the ruling party for over four decades. Hoxha's successor Ramiz Alia was forced to introduce limited reforms in the late 1980s. On 11 December 1990, Alia announced that the PPSh had given up its monopoly of power. The PPSh won the 1991 Albanian Constitutional Assembly election, the first free elections held in the country in almost 80 years. By this time, it was no longer a Marxist–Leninist party. At an extraordinary congress on 10–13 June 1991, the PPSh voted to change its name to the PS in an effort to adapt to survive in the new system.<ref>Elsie, pxliii</ref>
Fatos Nano, a man from the intelligentsia, was elected the new chairman.<ref>Nano, Rexhina. "Te jetosh kohen", pp. 230.</ref> Nano helped to reform the old Communist party and made it a member of the Socialist International. A faction of the party, led by Ilir Meta, split away from the PS in 2004 and formed the Socialist Movement for Integration (Lëvizja Socialiste për Integrim, LSI).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
On 10 October 2005, Nano resigned as the chairman of the PS after losing the 2005 Albanian parliamentary election, and was succeeded by Edi Rama.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Under Rama's lead, the PS formed the Alliance for a European Albania, which united several political parties. The alliance won the 2013 Albanian parliamentary election, thus returning the Socialists to the government after 8 years.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The Socialist Party, now running alone, again won the 2017 election and the 2021 election, winning 74 seats in both of them and is thus currently able to rule Albania alone, although it is externally supported by the Social Democratic Party in parliament.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Political positions
As a party in Albania,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> the Socialist Party of Albania is described as social-democratic<ref name="CSIS" /><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and centre-left.<ref name=":02">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":12">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":22">Template:Cite web</ref> In its 2013 party platform, the party has pledged to replace the flat tax with a progressive tax, and also supports universal health care.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Party leader Edi Rama has indicated that he supports LGBT rights in Albania.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The party is also pro-European, supports the accession of Albania to the European Union,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> NATO membership,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and considers Kosovo "Albania's main strategic partner and ally".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Rama has also said that he strives to follow the Third Way approach of former British prime minister Tony Blair.
Organisation
Logos
The current logo is based on the fist and rose logo in the version created by José María Cruz Novillo for the Spanish Socialist Workers Party in 1977. The PS logo is used without official consent and agreement with PSOE.<ref name="Graffica">Template:Cite news</ref>
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2013–2023
Party leaders
| No. | President | Born–died | Term start | Term end | Time in office | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| style="background:Template:Party color; color:white;"|1 | Fatos Nano | .jpg)
|
(1952—2025) | 13 June 1991 | 10 October 2005 | Template:Ayd |
| style="background:Template:Party color; color:white;"|2 | Edi Rama | _(cropped).jpg)
|
(born 1964) | 10 October 2005 | Incumbent | Template:Ayd |
Electoral performance
Parliamentary elections
See also
Notes
References
External links
Template:Albanian political parties Template:Party of European Socialists Template:Authority control