Bajram Begaj (born 20 March 1967) is an Albanian politician and military officer who has been President of Albania since 2022. Having had a long career in the Albanian army, he served as the 26th Chief of General Staff of the Albanian Armed Forces from July 2020 to June 2022. Politically independent, on 3 June 2022, Begaj was officially nominated by the governing Socialist Party as the candidate to the fourth round of the 2022 presidential election.
Bajram Begaj | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Begaj in 2023 | |
| President of Albania | |
| Assumed office 24 July 2022 | |
| Prime Minister | Edi Rama |
| Preceded by | Ilir Meta |
| 26th Chief of General Staff of Albanian Armed Forces | |
| In office 29 July 2020 – 4 June 2022 | |
| President | Ilir Meta |
| Minister | Olta Xhaçka Niko Peleshi |
| Preceded by | Bardhyl Kollçaku |
| Succeeded by | Arben Kingji |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 March 1967 Rrogozhinë, People's Socialist Republic, present Albania |
| Political party | Independent |
| Spouse | Armanda Begaj |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Faculty of Medicine |
| Profession | Military officer |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |   Albania |
| Branch/service | Albanian People's Army Armed Forces |
| Years of service | 1988 – 2022 |
| Rank | Major General |
Life and career
edit1967–2021: Early life and military
editBegaj was born on 20 March 1967, in Rrogozhinë. He graduated from Tirana's Faculty of Medicine in 1989 and became an active medical officer in 1998. Having completed his professional doctorate degree, he holds the title "Associate Professor" in Medicine.
During his 31-year military career, Begaj has taken part in numerous training seminars and completed courses in Security and Defense, the Advanced Postgraduate School of Medicine, a Postgraduate Specialization in Gastrohepatology, a Hospital Management Course and Strategic Medical Leadership Course in the United States, a Specialization Course in Medicine and a Health Course in Greece.[1][2]
Begaj previously served as the Commander of the Doctrine and Training Command in the Albanian Armed Forces. He held various other posts including: Chief of the Military Medical Unit and Deputy Military Director of SUT, Director of the Military Hospital, Director of the Health Inspectorate, etc. He was appointed Chief of the General Staff of the Albanian Armed Forces in July 2020 and assumed office later that month.[3]
2022–present: Presidency
editOn 24 July 2022, Begaj was inaugurated as the incumbent president of Albania for a five-year term.[4][1][2] His election followed a series of parliamentary proceedings that commenced on 10 May , when the parliament of Albania initiated the process for presidential selection.[5][6] Despite challenges in achieving consensus on a suitable candidate, the governing Socialist Party (PS) nominated Begaj on 3 June for the fourth round of voting, after he resigned from his position as Chief of the General Staff of the Albanian Armed Forces.[5][7][8] He was subsequently elected with 78 votes in favor, exceeding the required majority, while the opposition led by the Democratic Party (PD) abstained from participation in the voting process.[9] The tenure of Begaj has been marked by a commitment to enhancing Albania's international relations and advancing Euro-Atlantic integration.[10] Since assuming office, he has actively engaged in diplomatic efforts, undertaking numerous international diplomatic visits to foster partnerships and elevate Albania's global standing.[11]
Personal life
editBegaj is married to Armanda Begaj, with whom he has two sons, Dorian and Klajdi.[12][13]
Honours and accolades
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Bajram Begaj, Chief of Defence of". NATO.
- ^ a b "Major-General-Bajram-Begaj-appointed-as-the-new-Chief-of-the-General-Staff-of-the-Albanian-Armed-Forces". mod.gov.al. Retrieved 2021-07-04.
- ^ "U dekretua gjeneral major nga presidenti Meta, kush është komandanti Bajram Bega?". BalkanWeb. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
- ^ "Fjala e Presidentit të Republikës, Sh. T. Z. Bajram Begaj gjatë ceremonisë së betimit në Kuvendin e Shqipërisë" (in Albanian). Presidenca. 24 July 2022. Archived from the original on 25 October 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
- ^ a b "Presidenti/ Më 16 maj raundi i parë, 5 ditë për kandidaturat. Pd: E keni zgjedhur emrin". Dosja (in Albanian). 10 May 2022. Archived from the original on 12 October 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
- ^ "Lack of Candidates Thwarts Vote on President in Albanian Parliament". Exit. 16 May 2022. Archived from the original on 12 October 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
- ^ Cuka, Fatjon (3 June 2022). "Bajram Begaj propozohet si kandidat për postin e Presidentit të Shqipërisë" (in Albanian). Anadolu Agency (AA). Archived from the original on 12 October 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
- ^ Ruci, Ani (3 June 2022). "Shqipëri: PS propozon një gjeneral për President" (in Albanian). Deutsche Welle (DW). Archived from the original on 12 October 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
- ^ Öztürk, Mustafa Talha (5 June 2022). "Albanian parliament elects Bajram Begaj new president". Belgrade: Anadolu Agency (AA). Archived from the original on 12 October 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
- ^ "President Bajram Begaj takes office". Tirana Times. 25 July 2022. Archived from the original on 11 October 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
- ^ Semini, Llazar (24 July 2022). "Albania's newly sworn-in president urges political unity". Associated Press (AP). Archived from the original on 11 October 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
- ^ "Nga zyrat e KLSH-së drejt titullit Zonjë e Parë, njihuni me Armanda Begajn, gruan e presidentit". www.dosja.al (in Albanian). 5 June 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ^ "Pasuritë milionëshe të presidentit të ri, Bajram Begaj". www.kumtari.al (in Albanian). 20 June 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ^ "Presidenti Begaj 'Qytetar Nderi' i arbëreshëve të Kalabrisë" (in Albanian). Presidenca. 3 May 2024. Archived from the original on 24 May 2024. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
- ^ "Presidenti Begaj shpallet 'Qytetar Nderi' nga Komuna e Roshanos" (in Albanian). Presidenca. 28 May 2023. Archived from the original on 19 April 2024. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
- ^ Ibrahimi, Majlinda (23 June 2024). "Presidenti Begaj merr titullin 'Qytetar Nderi' në Deçan". Koha (in Albanian). Archived from the original on 18 October 2024. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
- ^ Komuna e Deçanit (24 June 2024). "Presidenti i Republikës së Shqipërisë, Sh.T.Z. Bajram Begaj u dekorua me titullin 'Qytetar Nderi' në Deçan" (in Albanian). Archived from the original on 18 October 2024. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
- ^ "Pas Deçanit, Begaj do të shpallet ' Qytetar nderi' edhe në Drenas". Zëri (in Albanian). 24 June 2024. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
- ^ "Vendim për shpalljen e SH. T. Z. Prof. Dr. Bajram Begaj si 'Qytetar Nderi' i Komunës së Drenasit" (PDF) (in Albanian). Drenas: Komuna e Drenasit. 27 October 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 October 2024. Retrieved 18 October 2024.