Kemal Vrioni (1885–1952) was an Albanian political figure of the 1930s and 1940s.

Biography

Kemal Vrioni was a member of the

Vrioni family The Vrioni (Ottoman Turkish language, Ottoman Turkish: ''Viryon Zâdeler'') were an Albanian nobility, aristocratic Albanian family and one of the largest landowners of Albania, otherwise known as "Konaqe" or "Oxhaqe", among which the most importa ...

, a major landowning family from the Ottoman cast. He was the main landowner in the

Fier Fier (; sq-definite, Fieri, Latin: ''Fierum'') is the seventh most populous city of the Republic of Albania and seat of Fier County and Fier Municipality. It is situated on the bank of Gjanica River in the Myzeqe Plain between the Seman in ...

region. Born in Fier in 1885. He studied economics public administration in

Istanbul Istanbul is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, constituting the country's economic, cultural, and historical heart. With Demographics of Istanbul, a population over , it is home to 18% of the Demographics ...

.
Qemal Vrioni was a participant at the Congress of Durrës in December 1918. He was Assemblyman of Albanian Parliament during 1921-1928. He was involved in the anti- Zogist Uprising of Fier in 1935. Unlike other organizers like Costa Chekrezi, Musa Kranja, or Xhevahir Arapi who fled the country or were severely punished, he managed to come out unharmed. In 1938-1939 he was appointed in charge of ''SITA'', an Italian corporation operating in Albania in the field of electrical equipment and infrastructure. He would be replaced later by Salih Bey Vuçitërni. In 1940, during the Italian Occupation he took over the direction of the ''Tomorri'' newspaper, a fascist media which succeeded ''Fashizmi'' (Fascism). He was Minister of Finance in the government of Shefqet Vërlaci of 1940 succeeding Fejzi Alizoti. At the end of

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

he was arrested by the Albanian Partisans, proceeded at the Special Court of Spring 1945 which handled many previous politicians at that time. He was initially sentenced to death as "war criminal" and "enemy of the people", but later the charge was changed to prison time. According to Elsie, he died in Burrel prison in 1946. According to Aliko, he was condemned to 10 years of imprisonment, and released in 1952, being persecuted ever after. All the properties and estates were confiscated. Vrioni was accused during the 1920s for brutal behavior towards his estates' peasants, including driving them out of his land and burning their homes. He was unsuccessfully brought to court for that.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vrioni, Qemal Bey 1885 births 1946 deaths People from Fier Albanian people from the Ottoman Empire 19th-century Albanian politicians 20th-century Albanian politicians Qemal Government ministers of Albania Finance ministers of Albania

Biography

See also

References