Mehdi Frashëri

Mehdi Frashëri
10th Prime Minister of Albania
In office October 22, 1935 – November 9, 1936
Preceded by	Pandeli Evangjeli
Succeeded by	Kostaq Kota
17th Prime Minister of Albania
In office October 24, 1943 – November 3, 1943
Preceded by	Eqrem Libohova
Succeeded by	Rexhep Mitrovica
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office November 5, 1943 – July 21, 1944
Personal details
Born	28 February 1872(1872-02-28) Gjirokastër, Albania (then Ottoman Empire)
Died	25 May 1963(1963-05-25) (aged 91) Rome, Italy
Spouse(s)	Nejre Frashëri
Relations	Naim Frashëri(Father) Abdyl Frashëri(Uncle) Sami Frashëri(Uncle) Mit'hat Frashëri(Cousin) Ali Sami Yen(cousin)
Children	Vehbi Frashëri Mediha Frashëri Ragip Frashëri
Profession	Prime Minister
Religion	Bektashi Islam

Mehdi Frashëri (1872–1963) was an Albanian politician. He served as Prime Minister of Albania twice.

Biography

Early life

Mehdi Frashëri was born on 28th of February, 1872 in Gjirokastër. Mehdi Frashëri is from the notable Frashëri family. He studied in Manastır and later in Vienna.

Early political career and interwar period

He served as governor of the mutassarifate of Jerusalem under the Ottomans, mayor of Durres under Prince Wied, and minister of the interior in 1920.^[1]. On May 17, 1914 as a member of the International Commission of Control he signed the Protocol of Corfu.^[2] In 1923 he was also Albania's representative in the League of Nations. During the 1930s he held significant posts, including that of the Prime Minister from 1935 to 1936.^[3]. In the early 1930s he participated in the civil code reforms committees along with Thoma Orollogaj and Hasan Dosti.

Italian occupation

Members of the Albanian cabinet. From left to right, Fuat Dibra, Mihal Zallari, Mehdi Frashëri, Father Anton Harapi, Rexhep Mitrovica and Vehbi Frashëri

Frasheri was against Benito Mussolini and disliked the his policy of invading Albania^[4]. Frasheri took it upon himself to broad cast scathing attacks against the invasion as well as address a remonstrance to Mussolini^[5]. Following the departer of the government of Tirana, he urged young men with revolvers to distribute themselves to preserve order. When the invading troops were at the gates he sought asylum in the Turkish Legation, continuing to refuse to sign a declaration in support of the Italians. His personal courage impressed even the German minister, who successfully appealed to Rome to allow Frasheri to return home. Despite Italian guarantees, Frasheri was soon arrested and interned in Italy^[6].

Frasheri, Who had sympathy for the Germans partly because he had studied in Austria, worked with German minister Erich von Luckwald, in the hopes of establishing closer relations and to gain some protection for the Albanians from the Italians^[7].

Balli Kombëtar

After the capitulation of Italy, Nazi Germany took control of the Balkans. The Germans were appraised of his significance and began to search for him immediately after the invasion^[8]. Frasheri was found and agreed, on 16 September, to return to Tirana for talks with Hermann Neubacher, Major Franz von Scheiger and Herr Schliep. After the end of the meeting, it was agreed that Albania would have its own sovereignty under Nazi Germany, similar to the Independent State of Croatia^[9].

Frasheri agreed to serve as regent as well as head the council. The leadership of the council was originally designed to rotate, but Lef Nosi declined for heath reasons and Anton Harapi argued that as a Catholic monk he could accept no position in which he would be forced to sanction the death penalty. On November 3, 1943, Frasheri stepped down as Prime Minister and Rexhep Mitrovica took over. The Germans insisted that Frasheri still remain the head of the regency council. Although he was a supporter of Balli Kombëtar and associated to some of its members, Frashëri hadn't formally joind the movement.

After World War II

When the Partisans declared victory in Albania, the Germans evacuated, taking Mehdi Frasheri with them. Frasheri moved to Vienna and eventually settled in Rome, where he lived until his death^[10].

References

v d e Heads of State of Albania Provisional Government of Albania (1912-1914) Qemali · Alizoti Principality of Albania (1914-1925) Prince William · Toptani · none (1916-1918) · Përmeti · Delvina · High Council of Regency · Noli* Albanian Republic (1925-1928), President Zogu Albanian Kingdom (1928-1939), King Zog I Italian Occupation (1939-1943) Victor Emmanuel III German Occupation (1943-1944) Frashëri  · Frashëri Communist Albania (1944-1991) Nishani  · Lleshi  · Alia Republic of Albania (since 1991) Alia · Islami* · Arbnori* · Berisha · Gjinushi* · Meidani · Moisiu · Topi * Acting head of state

v d e Prime Ministers of Albania Provisional Government of Albania (1912-1914) Qemali · Alizoti Principality of Albania (1914-1925) Përmeti · Toptani · none · Përmeti · Delvina · Vrioni · Evangjeli · Koculi · Prishtina · Kosturi · Ypi · Zogu · Verlaci · Vrioni · Noli · Vrioni · Zogu Albanian Republic (1925-1928) Zogu Albanian Kingdom (1928-1939) Kota · Evangjeli · Frashëri · Kota Italian Occupation (1939-1943) Verlaci · Merlika-Kruja · Libohova · Bushati · Libohova German Occupation (1943-1944) Frashëri · Mitrovica · Dine · Biçakçiu Communist Albania (1944-1991) Hoxha  · Shehu  · Çarçani Republic of Albania (since 1991) Nano · Bufi · Ahmeti · Meksi · Fino · Nano · Majko · Meta · Majko · Nano · Berisha