Pirro Kondi
Pirro Kondi (born 1924, date of death unknown, 2015 or before) was an Albanian politician of the Party of Labour of Albania (PPSh).[1] Coming from a family with strong communist background, he became member of the Albanian Parliament and a candidate-member of the Politburo of the Party of Labour of Albania by the '80.
Early life
[edit]Kondi was born in Zagori, Albania in 1924. He was the brother of Albanian communist and youth activist Alqi Kondi, and former Government Minister Vito Kapo.[2] He became member of the Albanian Communist Party and member of the Albanian resistance during World War II.[3]
Political career
[edit]In 1954, Kondi was elected for the first as a delegate in the People's Assembly (Alb: Kuvendi Popullor). He remained such from the third to the fifth legislative term until 1966.[4] In addition, he was for many years a member of the Central Committee (CC) of the Party.[5] At the 3rd Congress of the PPSh in June 1956, he was elected head of the Organization Department of the Central Committee.[6] During the 5th Congress of the PPSh in November 1966, he was however "demoted" and was placed as candidate-member of the Central Committee.[7]
Kondi served for some time as Party's First Secretary in Korce,[8] and Elbasan. In August 1985, he became the successor of Foto Çami as First Secretary of the Party of Tirana.[9] This was the first personnel decision of the then First Secretary of the PPSh Ramiz Alia, after the death of Enver Hoxha and was considered a sign of maintaining its current political course, considering that Kondi was called between loyal supporters of Hoxha and had pushed multiple articles over Hoxha in the party newspaper Rruga e Partisë attacking internal party opponents of Hoxha such as Koçi Xoxe, Beqir Balluku, Mehmet Shehu, and others. From the other side, it shows Alia more as a moderate, since Çami, who was a moderate, moved on up as full member of the Politburo,[10] where Alia's main battles were and most support was needed.
Although Kondi did not belong to that time top-leaders of the Party, he could support his political influence on family relationships. His sister Vito was for many years a member of the Central Committee, and later served as Minister of Industry and Energy. She was married to Hysni Kapo, a longtime Central Committee secretary and the closest confidant of Hoxha.
On the 9th Congress of the PPSh in November 1986, he also became candidate-member of the Politburo of the Party of Labour, and held that office until his retirement in December 1990.[11]
Between 1987 and 1991, he was again a representative in the National Assembly.[4] As Tirana's First Secretary of PPSh, he was directly involved in the political endeavors of the 1990 student protests in Albania (see Fall of communism in Albania).[12]
Accusations of war crimes
[edit]Together with Qirjako Mihali, and Sulejman Bushati he was accused in 1996 for "crimes against humanity" by a special court in Tirana, and in August 1996 a sentence of 17 years was given. The court verdict remained below the request of the prosecutor, who had requested 20 years in prison for him.[13][14] Kondi was released short-after the 1997 turmoils. The Supreme Court of Albania declared Kondi innocent in 1999 and accorded to him an indemnity for the years spent in prison.
Personal life and death
[edit]Kondi was also an American citizen, like his father, Stathi Kondi, who had emigrated to the United States in 1900. Stathi Kondi graduated as a doctor at Boston University.
During a 2015 interview, his sister, Vito Kapo, stated that Pirro Kondi had died sometime prior, and that his wishes to be cremated were not honoured.[15]
References
[edit]- ^ Radio Free Europe Research, Volume 14, Issues 40-43, 1989, p.3
- ^ Südosteuropa-Handbuch, Volume 7, Klaus Detlev Grothusen, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1993, p.772
- ^ National conference dedicated to the immortal work of comrade Enver Hoxha, 15-16 October 1985, Instituti i Studimeve Marksiste-Leniniste, "8 Nëntori" Pub. House, 1985, p.42
- ^ a b [1][permanent dead link] - Republika e Shqipërisë KUVEND. Tiranë 2005
- ^ List Of The Member Of Leading Albanian Party Archived 2014-03-28 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ The Albanian Communist Party From Its Foundation Up To Its Fourth Congress Archived 2010-11-21 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ No Change in the Albanian Politburo (8. November 1966) Archived 2014-05-31 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ China and Albania, Friends in a Common Struggle: A Collection of Speeches and Documents from the Visit of Chinese Leaders to Albania, Foreign Languages Press, 1964, p.6
- ^ Albania in Transition: The Rocky Road to Democracy, Elez Biberaj, Westview Press, 1998, p.53
- ^ Human rights in the People's Socialist Republic of Albania: a report of the Minnesota Lawyers International Human Rights Committee, 1990, p.18
- ^ Communist and Marxist parties of the world, Charles Hobday, Roger East, Longman, 1990, p.167
- ^ Modern Albania: From Dictatorship to Democracy in Europe, Fred C. Abrahams, p.53
- ^ FINAL SAYING FOR THREE FORMER SENIOR PLA OFFICIALS (6. Juni 1996)
- ^ APPEAL COURT'S DECISION FOR THREE FORMER PLA OFFICIALS (6. August 1997)
- ^ "Vito Kapo: Amaneti im". Koha Jone. 4 March 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2022.