Bajram Begaj

Bajram Begaj (born 20 March 1967) is an Albanian politician and retired military officer, who is currently serving as the 9th President of Albania since 24 July 2022.[1] 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.[2][3][4]

His Excellency
Bajram Begaj
Official portrait, 2021
President of Albania
Assumed office
24 July 2022
Prime MinisterEdi Rama
Preceded byIlir Meta
26th Chief of General Staff of Albanian Armed Forces
In office
29 July 2020 – 4 June 2022
PresidentIlir Meta
MinisterOlta Xhaçka
Niko Peleshi
Preceded byBardhyl Kollçaku
Succeeded byArben Kingji
Personal details
Born (1967-03-20) 20 March 1967
Rrogozhinë, People's Socialist Republic of Albania
Political partyIndependent
SpouseArmanda Begaj
Children2
Alma materFaculty of Medicine
ProfessionMilitary officer
Military service
Allegiance Albania
Branch/serviceAlbanian People's Army
Albanian Armed Forces
Years of service1988–2022
Rank Major General

Although 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. Begaj is the fifth president in the history of Albania to have a military background, after Ahmet Zogu, Ramiz Alia, Alfred Moisiu and Bujar Nishani.[5]

Early life and career

Begaj 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.[2][3]

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.[6]

Presidency (2022–present)

Begaj was elected by the parliament of Albania for the role of president on 4 June 2022, with 78 votes in favour, 4 against, and 1 abstention. 57 MPs from the opposition boycotted the vote, claiming the process of naming candidates was irregular.[7] Begaj was sworn in on 24 July 2022.

Official visits
Country Date Cities visited Type of visit Rf.
1  Kosovo 15–16 August 2022 Pristina and Prekaz Official visit [8]
2  Slovenia 12 September 2022 Kranj Brdo-Brijuni Process [9]
3  United Kingdom 19 September 2022 London State funeral of Elizabeth II [10]
4   Vatican City 2 December 2022 Vatican City Official visit [11]
5  Kosovo 16 February 2023 Pristina Working visit [12]
6  Belgium 7 March 2023 Brussels Working visit [13]
7  Azerbaijan 12 March 2023 Baku Working visit [14]
8  Croatia 27 April 2023 Zagreb Official visit [15]
9  United Kingdom 6 May 2023 London Coronation of Charles III and Camilla [16]

Personal life

Begaj is married to Armanda Begaj, with whom he has two sons, Dorian and Klajdi.[17][18]


References
  1. "Me 78 vota pro, Bajram Begaj zgjidhet Presidenti i 8-të i Shqipërisë | RTSH Lajme". lajme.rtsh.al. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  2. "Bajram Begaj, Chief of Defence of Albania". NATO.
  3. "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.
  4. "Head-of-Albanian-Armed-Forces-Emphasizes-Importance-Of-'Defender-Europe-21'". albaniandailynews.com. Retrieved 2021-07-04.
  5. "Kush është kandidati për President i shumicës socialiste". Euronews. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  6. "U dekretua gjeneral major nga presidenti Meta, kush është komandanti Bajram Bega?". BalkanWeb. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  7. "Albania Elects Top General as Country's New President". VOA. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
  8. Begaj, President of the Republic of Albania - Bajram. "PRESIDENTI I REPUBLIKËS SË SHQIPËRISË, SH. T. Z. BAJRAM BEGAJ DO TË ZHVILLOJË NË DATAT 15-16 GUSHT NJË VIZITË ZYRTARE NË REPUBLIKËN E KOSOVËS". President of the Republic of Albania - Bajram Begaj. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  9. Begaj, President of the Republic of Albania - Bajram. "Presidenti Begaj merr pjesë në Takimin e Liderëve të Procesit të Brdo-Brijunit". President of the Republic of Albania - Bajram Begaj. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  10. Begaj, President of the Republic of Albania - Bajram. "Presidenti i Republikës, Sh. T. Z. Bajram Begaj dhe Zonja e Parë, Armanda Begaj nisen sot për të marrë pjesë në Funeralin Shtetëror për Mbretëreshën Elizabeth II". President of the Republic of Albania - Bajram Begaj. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  11. Begaj, President of the Republic of Albania - Bajram. "PRESIDENTI BEGAJ DHE ZONJA E PARË PRITEN NË AUDIENCË TË VEÇANTË NGA ATI I SHENJTË, PAPA FRANÇESKU". President of the Republic of Albania - Bajram Begaj. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  12. Begaj, President of the Republic of Albania - Bajram. "Presidenti Begaj pritet nga Presidentja e Kosovës Osmani, të cilën e uroi për Ditën e Pavarësisë". President of the Republic of Albania - Bajram Begaj. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  13. Begaj, President of the Republic of Albania - Bajram. "PresidentiNJOFTIM MBI VIZITËN E PRESIDENTIT TË REPUBLIKËS, SH.T.Z. BAJRAM BEGAJ NË NATO". President of the Republic of Albania - Bajram Begaj. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  14. Begaj, President of the Republic of Albania - Bajram. "Presidenti Begaj takohet me Presidentin e Azerbajxhanit Aliyev". President of the Republic of Albania - Bajram Begaj. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  15. Begaj, President of the Republic of Albania - Bajram. "Presidenti Begaj takohet me Presidentin Milanoviç". President of the Republic of Albania - Bajram Begaj. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  16. Begaj, President of the Republic of Albania - Bajram. "CEREMONIA E KURORËZIMIT TË MBRETIT CHARLES III, PRESIDENTI BEGAJ: I NDERUAR TË PËRFAQËSOJA SHQIPËRINË NË KËTË KURORËZIM HISTORIK". President of the Republic of Albania - Bajram Begaj. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  17. "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.
  18. "Pasuritë milionëshe të presidentit të ri, Bajram Begaj". www.kumtari.al (in Albanian). 20 June 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2023.


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