Bajram Begaj is elected the new President of Albania, Berisha's party doesn't like him

Bajram Begaj greeting the deputies who voted him President of Albania

 Bajram Bega has been elected the new President of the Republic of Albania. The vote, which took place in the plenary session of the Assembly, was attended by 83 deputies.

Begaj was elected with 78 votes in favor, while 4 deputies voted against and there was an abstention.

 Bajram Begaj and ther Albanian Presidency back to him; photoshop modified picture

Of these, 74 were deputies of the Socialist Party (SP), 8 of the opposition respectively the Socialist Movement for Integration and the Party for Justice Integration and Unity, and 3 from the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

A vote for Begaj has 'leaked' from the opposition because the number of votes of the SP and PSD together was 77.

At the beginning of the session, 103 deputies were present, of which 26 opposition deputies.

But the chairman of the Democratic Party, Sali Berisha, and the Democratic MPs in his support boycotted the process shortly before the vote.

Berisha describes Bajram Begaj's candidacy for President of the Republic as unconstitutional and a dangerous precedent for the country and democracy.

Through a post on social networks, Berisha says that the proposal of the Chief of General Staff of the Albanian Army for the post of president is a flagrant violation of the Constitution.

Berisha cites Article 167 of the Constitution, which stipulates that active-duty servicemen cannot be elected, appointed to other state positions, or to political activities.

According to Berisha, if Begaj had political ambitions, he would have to resign some time ago, in order to engage in politics.

Who is Bajram Begaj?

Before being elected President, Begaj was the Chief of the General Staff of the Army. He was born in 1967 in Rrogozhine and has held this position since 2020. Previously, he was the Commander of the Training and Doctrine Command, Chief of the Military Medical Unit, Director of the Health Inspectorate, and Chief Inspector and Advisor of the Health Inspectorate at the General Staff of the Albanian Armed Forces.

The President of the Republic, Ilir Meta, awarded him the major rank of "Major General" in 2020, introducing him to the history of the Armed Forces after he became the first doctor in the army to become a major general, which is the highest rank.

Major General Bajram Begaj, has completed the "Doctorate in the Field of Medicine", at the Faculty of Medicine in Tirana and holds the title "Associate Professor" in Medicine. At the same time, he has been awarded various medals for achievements during his military career.

The 55-year-old Bajram Begaj is married and has two children.