Bajram Begaj

Bajram Begaj (born 20 March 1967) is an Albanian politician and retired military officer, who is currently serving as the 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
Begaj in 2023
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]
10  Montenegro 20 May 2023 Podgorica Inauguration of President Jakov Milatović [17]
11  Italy 26 May 2023 Rome Official visit [18]
12  Kosovo 10 June 2023 Prizren Working visit [19]
13  North Macedonia 16 June 2023 Lake Prespa Working visit [20]
14  Montenegro 27 June 2023 Podgorica SEECP Summit [21]
15  Azerbaijan 7 July 2023 Baku Official visit [22]
16  Slovenia 13 July 2023 Ljubljana Official visit [23]
17  Kazakhstan 7 September 2023 Astana Official visit [24]
18  North Macedonia 11 September 2023 Skopje Brdo-Brijuni Process [25]
19  United States 18–23 September 2023 New York City UNGA Session [26]
20  Italy 26 September 2023 Rome State funeral of Giorgio Napolitano [27]
21 21-23 October 2023 Falconara Albanese, Pallagorio, Vena Visit to the Arbëreshë people [28]

Personal life

Begaj is married to Armanda Begaj, with whom he has two sons, Dorian and Klajdi.[29][30]

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. Web, Balkan (20 May 2023). "Ceremonitë e inaugurimit të Presidentit të ri të Malit të Zi, i pranishëm edhe Bajram Begaj". Balkanweb.
  18. Begaj, President of the Republic of Albania - Bajram. "Një miqësi e lashtë dhe një partneritet strategjik që forcohen dita-ditës ishin sot në qendër të vizitës zyrtare të Presidentit Begaj në Itali dhe takimit me Presidentin italian Mattarella". President of the Republic of Albania - Bajram Begaj. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  19. Begaj, President of the Republic of Albania - Bajram. "Presidenti Begaj merr pjesë në ceremonitë e organizuara për 145-vjetorin e Lidhjes Shqiptare të Prizrenit". President of the Republic of Albania - Bajram Begaj. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  20. Begaj, President of the Republic of Albania - Bajram. "Fjala e Presidentit të Republikës, SH.T.Z. Bajram Begaj në panelin e presidentëve në Forumin e Dialogut të Prespës". President of the Republic of Albania - Bajram Begaj. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  21. Begaj, President of the Republic of Albania - Bajram. "Presidenti Begaj merr pjesë në Takimin e Nivelit të Lartë të Kryesisë së Radhës së Malit të Zi të Samitit të SEECP". President of the Republic of Albania - Bajram Begaj. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  22. Begaj, President of the Republic of Albania - Bajram. "Deklarata për shtyp e Presidentit të Republikës, Sh.T.Z. Bajram Begaj, gjatë vizitës shtetërore në Azerbajxhan". President of the Republic of Albania - Bajram Begaj. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  23. Begaj, President of the Republic of Albania - Bajram. "Presidenti Begaj pritet nga Presidentja e Sllovenisë Nataša Pirc Musar". President of the Republic of Albania - Bajram Begaj. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  24. Begaj, President of the Republic of Albania - Bajram. "PRESIDENTI BEGAJ TAKOHET ME PRESIDENTIN TOKAYEV NË KAZAKISTAN". President of the Republic of Albania - Bajram Begaj. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  25. Begaj, President of the Republic of Albania - Bajram. "Presidenti i Republikës, Sh.T.Z. Bajram Begaj, merr pjesë në Takimin e Liderëve të Procesit të Brdo-Brijunit". President of the Republic of Albania - Bajram Begaj. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  26. Begaj, President of the Republic of Albania - Bajram. "Presidenti i Republikës do të marrë pjesë në debatin e 78-të të Asamblesë së Përgjithshme të OKB-së". President of the Republic of Albania - Bajram Begaj. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  27. Begaj, President of the Republic of Albania - Bajram. "Presidenti Begaj merr pjesë në funeralin shtetëror të ish – Presidentit të Italisë, Giorgio Napolitano". President of the Republic of Albania - Bajram Begaj. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  28. Begaj, President of the Republic of Albania - Bajram. "Presidenti Begaj, me arbëreshët në Krotone: Na ndan vetëm një det, mesazhi i dy këmbanave të kishës të drejtuara nga Shqipëria". President of the Republic of Albania - Bajram Begaj. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  29. "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.
  30. "Pasuritë milionëshe të presidentit të ri, Bajram Begaj". www.kumtari.al (in Albanian). 20 June 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
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