Josif Pashko (25 May 1918 - 5 September 1963) was an

Albanian Albanian may refer to: *Pertaining to Albania in Southeast Europe; in particular: **Albanians, an ethnic group native to the Balkans **Albanian language **Albanian culture **Demographics of Albania, includes other ethnic groups within the country ...

politician during the country's socialist period.

Biography

Josif Pashko was born into a peasant family in the village of Vodica, Kolonja. In 1938, he graduated from the Normal School at

Elbasan Elbasan ( , ; sq-definite, Elbasani, ) is the fourth most populous city of Albania and seat of Elbasan County and Elbasan Municipality. It lies to the north of the river Shkumbin between the Skanderbeg Mountains and the Myzeqe Plain in centr ...

and served as an elementary school teacher in that town from 1939 to 1942. Together with his father Pashko Vodica, he joined the communist-led resistance to Italian occupation in 1942, becoming a political commissar of various brigades. After the war, he was involved in the armed forces, security and judicial organs. From 1950 onwards, he was a deputy in the People's Assembly. From 1954 until his death, he was a government minister in charge of construction. During the war, he joined the Communist Party of Albania (Party of Labour of Albania after 1948) and became a member of its Central Committee in 1952. His son Gramoz Pashko was an economist who co-founded the

Democratic Party of Albania The Democratic Party of Albania (, PDSH), also known as the Democratic Party (, PD), is a Conservatism, conservative political party in Albania. It has been the largest opposition party in the country since 2013 and has dominated the Albanian ...

in 1990.

References

* Skendi, Stavro (ed). ''Albania''. New York: Frederick A. Praeger. 1956. p. 338. 1918 births 1963 deaths People from Kolonjë Party of Labour of Albania politicians Government ministers of Albania Construction ministers of Albania Albanian communists Albanian schoolteachers {{Albania-politician-stub