Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha
Since May 2022 and onwards: Chairman of the Democratic Party of Albania and Member of Parliament representing the Democratic Party.
From the year 2021 onwards: parliament member and representative of the Democratic Party in the Assembly of Albania.
2013 – 2019: deputy and representative of the Democratic Party in the Assembly of Albania.
2005-2013: Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania and representing Parliamentary Member of the Democratic Party in the Assembly of Albania.
1997 – 2005: Chairman of the Democratic Party and representing Parliamentary Member of the Democratic Party in the Assembly of Albania.
1992-1997: President of the Republic of Albania.
1991-1992: representing Parliamentary Member of the Democratic Party in the Assembly of Albania.
1967-1990: Doctor at the “Mother Teresa” University Hospital and lecturer, professor at the Faculty of Medicine.
Education & specialties
After graduating from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Tirana (1962-1967), specializing in cardiology, he was then appointed as an assistant professor at the same faculty and as a cardiologist at the General Hospital of Tirana. During his academic career, he carried out scientific studies, on the basis of which he received scientific degrees and the title “Professor” (1989) at the University of Tirana. Participated in several specializations in hospitals and clinics abroad, such as Clichy Hospital (Paris). Starting from the 1970s, he intensively took part in researches, the results of which he published in various prestigious international conferences and journals such as the British Heart Journal, etc., as well as being the author of several medical books published in Albania. In 1986 he was elected a member of the European Committee for Medical Research of the WHO.
Social & political activity:
In 1990 he wrote a series of articles in the domestic newspapers where he defended the idea of the need for freedom of expression and condemned censorship and self-censorship as well as demanded for the country to be open and also the removal of the leadership role of the Albania’s Labor Party from the Constitution and the permission of political pluralism in Albania as well.
In December 1990, he joined the students’ protests from the beginning and after the founding of the first opposition party – the Democratic Party, he became a member of its initial committee, and later on, in February 1991, he was elected Chairman of the Democratic Party.
As the Chairman of the Democratic Party, he has led it through 14 general parliamentary and local elections.
As President of Albania (1992 – 1997), the main focus has been on – the building and establishing of democratic institutions based on the market economy and the introduction and accession of the country into the Euro-Atlantic institutions.
During the period that he served as Prime Minister (2005 – 2013), the main focus and achievements of his government have been – Integration of Albania into NATO, the removal of the visa regime, progress in the integration of the country into the EU, the construction of modern road infrastructure, the Nation’s Highway, Digital Albania, TAP, Albania being transformed into a small regional energy superpower, etc.
Since 2013, as a representative of the DP in the Assembly of Albania, but also outside the Parliament, he has constantly tried to be a strong voice of opposition, but also of the concerns of citizens who are not affiliated to any political party, through public denunciations and reports in the Parliament of Albania, holding press conferences and actively making use of social platforms.
Since September 2021, he has stepped back to the active role played in the DP structures with its returning to the path of the mission of a real opposition.
Sali Berisha is the Chairman of the Democratic Party, elected according to the Statute, by the vote of the membership.
