Manush Myftiu (16 January 1919 – 20 October 1997) was an Albanian politician during the country's socialist period. He served in a number of positions, most recently as the

deputy prime minister A deputy prime minister or vice prime minister is, in some countries, a government minister who can take the position of acting prime minister when the prime minister is temporarily absent. The position is often likened to that of a vice president, ...

Early life

Myftiu was born in Vlora to a family of Albanian Muslim landowners. In 1939 he graduated from a Classical Lycée in Rome and while in his hometown joined a communist cell. From 1940 to 1941 he studied at the Medical Faculty of the

University of Turin The University of Turin ( Italian: ''Università degli Studi di Torino'', UNITO) is a public research university in the city of Turin, in the Piedmont region of Italy. It is one of the oldest universities in Europe and continues to play an imp ...

but did not complete his studies, returning to Vlora where he was obliged to join the Albanian Fascist Youth. While a member of it he simultaneously remained a member of a communist cell, carrying out clandestine activities against fascism and becoming a member of the Communist Party of Albania (from 1948 the Party of Labour of Albania) after it was founded. During the war he became Commissar of the Fifth Partisan Brigade, commissar of the First Combat Division, and was attached to the Fifth and Eighth Brigades of the First Army Corps. During the war he served as a member of the Vlora District Party Committee.

Political career

After the war, Myftiu was active in the Communist political structure and became a protégé of

Mehmet Shehu Mehmet Ismail Shehu (January 10, 1913 – December 18, 1981) was an Albanian communist politician who served as the 23rd Prime Minister of Albania from 1954 to 1981. As an acknowledged military tactician, without whose leadership the communist p ...

. From 1947 to 1949, he served as Chair of the

People's Assembly of Albania The Parliament of Albania ( sq, Kuvendi i Shqipërisë) or Kuvendi is the unicameral representative body of the citizens of the Republic of Albania; it is Albania's legislature. The Parliament is composed of no less than 140 members elected to ...

. He then served as Minister without portfolio from 1949 to 1950. In November 1948, he became a member of the central committee of the

Party of Labour of Albania The Party of Labour of Albania ( sq, Partia e Punës e Shqipërisë, PPSh), sometimes referred to as the Albanian Workers' Party (AWP), was the ruling and sole legal party of Albania during the communist period (1945–1991). It was founded o ...

. He remained a member of the central committee until it was disbanded when the party transitioned into the

Socialist Party of Albania The Socialist Party of Albania ( sq, Partia Socialiste e Shqipërisë, PS or PSSh) is a social-democratic political party in Albania. It has been described as centre-left, to left-wing. It was founded on 13 June 1991. The PS is an associate of ...

. From May 1950 to April 1951, he served as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. On 4 July 1950, Myftiu was appointed President of the Control Commission. He served in this position until 5 March 1951, replaced by

. On 5 March 1951, Myftiu was made a vice-premier and replaced

Manol Konomi The Manol River is a river in Alt Empordà, Catalonia, Spain. It is a seasonal river, and a tributary of the Muga. An emblematic bird of the river is the European bee-eater (Merops apiaster), a migratory bird that overwinters in tropical Africa ...

as the

Minister of Justice A justice ministry, ministry of justice, or department of justice is a Ministry (government department), ministry or other government agency in charge of the administration of justice. The ministry or department is often headed by a minister of ju ...

as part of a series of changes to the cabinet. He held this post until 6 September 1951, when he was dismissed and replaced by

Bilbil Klosi Bilbil Klosi (25 January 1915 – 22 November 1978) was an Albanian politician and public prosecutor during the Communist Albania period. Among other duties, he served as Minister of Justice from 1951 to 1966. Klosi was born in the village of ...

as part of a cabinet reshuffle. On 11 April 1952, it was announced that Myftiu was dismissed as vice-premier. On 12 July 1954, following a reorganization of the

, Myftiu and Josif Pashko were replaced in their party posts by Gogo Nushi and Liri Belishova. On 20 July 1954, Myftiu became vice-premier once again. He became a candidate member of the

Politburo A politburo () or political bureau is the executive committee for communist parties. It is present in most former and existing communist states. Names The term "politburo" in English comes from the Russian ''Politbyuro'' (), itself a contractio ...

in 1952, and a full member of the Politburo from 1956 to 1990. From 1956 to 1958, Myftiu served as

Minister of Health A health minister is the member of a country's government typically responsible for protecting and promoting public health and providing welfare and other social security services. Some governments have separate ministers for mental health. Coun ...

. From 1958 to 1965, he served as Minister of Education. From 1966 to 1976, he was First Secretary of the

Tirana Tirana ( , ; aln, Tirona) is the capital and largest city of Albania. It is located in the centre of the country, enclosed by mountains and hills with Dajti rising to the east and a slight valley to the northwest overlooking the Adriatic Sea ...

District Party Committee. From 1976 to 1990, he served as deputy prime minister.

Later life

On 2 July 1994, Myftiu was sentenced to five years in prison on the charge of abusing his powers during his time in office, but was released on account of his advanced age.

References

Additional References

* Elsie, Robert. ''A Biographical Dictionary of Albanian History''. London: I.B. Tauris. 2012. p. 324. * Skendi, Stavro (ed). ''Albania''. New York: Frederick A. Praeger. 1956. pp. 334–335. {{DEFAULTSORT:Myftiu, Manush 1919 births 1997 deaths People from Vlorë Labour Party of Albania politicians Members of the Politburo of the Labour Party of Albania Candidate members of the Politburo of the Labour Party of Albania Government ministers of Albania Deputy Prime Ministers of Albania Education ministers of Albania Speakers of the Parliament of Albania Members of the Parliament of Albania Communism in Albania Albanian anti-fascists Albanian resistance members Health ministers of Albania Ministers without portfolio of Albania State auditors of Albania Albanian expatriates in Italy