Haxhi Lleshi

Haxhi Lleshi
Minister of Internal Affairs of Albania
In office
22 October 1944 – 23 March 1946
Succeeded by Koçi Xoxe
Chairman of the Presidium of the People's Assembly
In office
1 August 1953 – 22 November 1982
Preceded by Omer Nishani
Succeeded by Ramiz Alia
Personal details
Born 19 October 1913
Dibër County, Independent Albania
Died 1 January 1998
Tirana, Albania
Political party Party of Labour of Albania

Haxhi Lleshi (October 19, 1913–January 1, 1998) was an Albanian military leader and communist politician.

Lleshi was one of the top commanders in Albania's fight against the Italians and Germans during World War II and is still considered by some to be a hero in Albania for his actions during the war. When a Communist-dominated government was set up in Albania in 1944, Lleshi became interior minister and served in that position from 1944 to 1946. His name was mentioned in a CIA report of 1952 as an Yugoslavian informant, together with Myslym Peza.[1]

On August 1, 1953, Lleshi became chairman of the Presidium of the People's Assembly of Albania, a post equivalent to that of president. He was nominally the third most powerful man in Albania, behind general secretary Enver Hoxha and prime minister Mehmet Shehu. During Lleshi's time in power, Albania became known as one of the most independent communist nations, as it feuded with the Soviet Union, became an ally of People's Republic of China,[2] and then feuded with China in the 1970s.

Lleshi retired from his position as chairman of the Presidium on November 22, 1982, after nearly 30 years in office, when Hoxha reshuffled the government. Hoxha died three years later, and during the early 1990s, the communist regime fell, but Lleshi continued to live in Albania. In 1998, he died from natural causes.

References

  1. ↑ Auron Tare (28.10.12), CIA zbardh sekretet: Tito kishte lidhje në Tiranë me Haxhi Lleshin e Myslym Pezën [CIA reveals the secret: Tito was in contact in Tirana with Haxhi Lleshi and Myslym Peza] (in Albanian), Gazeta Panorama, retrieved 12.10.13 Check date values in: |date=, |accessdate= (help)
  2. ↑ Albanian Communist Leaders mourning
Political offices
Preceded by
Omer Nishani		 Chairman of the Presidium of the People's Assembly of Albania
1 August 1953–22 November 1982 		Succeeded by
Ramiz Alia