Bashkim Fino
MP
Member of the Albanian Parliament
for Fier
In office
9 September 2017 (2017-09-09) – 28 March 2021 (2021-03-28)
29th Prime Minister of Albania
In office
11 March 1997 (1997-03-11) – 24 July 1997 (1997-07-24)
PresidentSali Berisha
Preceded byAleksandër Meksi
Succeeded byFatos Nano
Deputy Prime Minister of Albania
In office
25 July 1997 (1997-07-25) – 23 April 1998 (1998-04-23)
Prime MinisterFatos Nano
Preceded byTritan Shehu
Succeeded byMakbule Çeço
Minister of Local Government
In office
28 November 1999 (1999-11-28) – 6 September 2001 (2001-09-06)
Prime MinisterIlir Meta
Preceded byArben Demeti
Succeeded byArben Imami
Mayor of Gjirokastër
In office
1992 (1992)–1996 (1996)
Minister of Public Works and Tourism
In office
6 September 2001 (2001-09-06) – 29 January 2002 (2002-01-29)
Prime MinisterIlir Meta
In office
December 29, 2003 (2003-12-29) – September 1, 2005 (2005-09-01)
Prime MinisterFatos Nano
Personal details
Born(1962-10-12)12 October 1962
Gjirokastër
Died29 March 2021(2021-03-29) (aged 58)
Tirana
Cause of deathCOVID‑19
NationalityAlbanian
Political partySocialist
Alma materUniversity of Tirana
Signature

Bashkim Fino (12 October 1962 – 29 March 2021) was an Albanian socialist politician who served as the 29th Prime Minister of Albania from March to July 1997.

Biography

Fino studied economics in Tirana and the United States. After this, he worked as an economist in Gjirokastër,[1] and in 1992 became its mayor. He was married and had two children.

On 11 March 1997, Democratic Party President Sali Berisha appointed Fino, a member of the opposition Socialist Party of Albania, Prime Minister in order to lead a government of national unity.[2] This came after rebellion broke out over the collapse of several pyramid schemes leading to the government losing control of much of the country.[3] Fino was Prime Minister through the 1997 elections where his Socialist Party won a large majority before he stepped down and was succeeded by his party leader Fatos Nano.[4]

As of 2014, Fino was a Member of Parliament representing a constituency in the Korçë District.[5] Fino was a lecturer at the Political Academy of the Socialist Party of Albania.

Fino was a devoted fan of Italian football team Inter Milan. In January 2018 he declared his intention to run for president of the Albanian Football Federation, challenging Armand Duka, the incumbent president of the last 16 years. The elections held on 7 February 2018, were lost by Fino, although he claimed that the voting process was irregular and that he would appeal to UEFA and FIFA.

Fino, who had Leukemia, died on 29 March 2021, after contracting COVID-19. He was 58.[2][6]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Britons urged to flee unrest in Albania". The Independent. 12 March 1997. p. 12.
  2. ^ a b Semini, Llazar (29 March 2021). "Economist who pulled Albania out of 1997 anarchy dead at 58". ABC News. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  3. ^ "Prime minister gets warm welcome from armed rebels". The Irish Times. 2 April 1997. p. 9.
  4. ^ "Mejdani moves on new government". The Irish Times. 25 July 1997. p. 9.
  5. ^ "FINO, Bashkim". Kuvendi i Shqiperisë. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
  6. ^ "I infektuar me COVID, ndahet nga jeta në moshën 59-vjeçare deputeti Bashkim Fino". top-channel.tv (in Albanian). 29 March 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
Political offices Preceded byAleksandër Meksi Prime Minister of Albania 11 March 1997 – 24 July 1997 Succeeded byFatos Nano
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