Ekrem Libohova
{{Short description|Albanian politician (1882–1948)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Ekrem Libohova
| honorific-suffix = Bey
| image = Ekrem Libohova.jpg
| imagesize =
| order1 = 17th Prime Minister of Albania
| monarch1 = Victor Emmanuel III
| term_start1 = 19 January 1943
| term_end1 = 13 February 1943
| predecessor1 = Mustafa Merlika-Kruja
| successor1 = Maliq Bushati
| monarch2 = Victor Emmanuel III
| term_start2 = 12 May 1943
| term_end2 = 8 September 1943
| predecessor2 = Maliq Bushati
| successor2 = Rexhep Mitrovica
| birth_date = 24 February 1882
| birth_place = Gjirokastër, Janina Vilayet, Ottoman Empire (modern-day Albania)
| death_date = 7 June 1948 (aged 66)
| death_place = Rome, Italy
| spouse =
| party = Albanian Fascist Party
| relatives = Mufid Libohova
| occupation =
| profession = Prime Minister
| signature = Ekrem Libohova (nënshkrim).svg
}}
Ekrem Bey Libohova (24 February 1882 – 7 June 1948) was an Albanian politician and Axis collaborator. He served as the Prime Minister of Albania on two occasions during the Italian occupation of Albania.
Political career
He was born in Gjirokastër and educated in Istanbul and Brussels. His brother was Mufid Libohova, who was Minister of the Interior in the Provisional Government of Albania.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=haFlGXIg8uoC&pg=PA273 |title=Historical Dictionary of Albania |author=Robert Elsie |publisher=Scarecrow Press |year=2010 |isbn=9780810873803 |access-date=2020-06-09}}
Early in his political career, Libohova served as the Albanian Minister to Rome. In 1924, while serving in this role, Libohova helped negotiate the creation of the Bank of Albania. He was joined by his brother, Mufid.{{cite book |last=Fischer |first=Bernd Jürgen |author-link1=Bernd Jürgen Fischer |date=1984 |title=King Zog and the Struggle for Stability in Albania |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OpBpAAAAMAAJ |location=Boulder, Colorado |publisher=East European Monographs |page=89 |isbn=978-0-88033-051-0}}
In 1929, he became a minister of court to Zog I. Libohova was described as an "Italophile" by other members of Albania's political class during his time as minister to the court.{{harvnb|1=Fischer|2=1984|page=210}} On 26 January 1931, he joined King Zog on a trip to Italy. On 20 February, after attending a showing of Pagliacci at the Vienna State Opera, Libohova was injured in an assassination attempt against the King. Zog, Libohova, and their chauffeur returned fire on the attempted assassins, Aziz Çami and Ndok Gjeloshi. Libohova was shot in the leg and a bullet went through his hat; the King was unharmed.{{cite book|last=Vickers|first=Miranda|title=The Albanians: a modern history |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IzI0uOZ2j6gC&q=Aziz+Cami+1931&pg=PA131|year=2001|publisher=IB Tauris|isbn=1-86064-541-0|page=131}}{{harvnb|1=Fischer|2=1984|pages=180–83}}
During the 1936-1939 government of Kostaq Kotta, Libohova was Albania's foreign minister. After the Italian invasion of Albania, he left the country for Italy but returned to serve in the government of the Italian protectorate. From January 19 to February 13, 1943, and from May 12 to September 8, 1943, Libohova served as Prime Minister.
As Germany invaded Albania to replace the Italians, Libohova and Italian General Alberto Pariani escaped for Italy. Libohova died in Rome on 7 June 1948.
References
{{Reflist|2}}
{{S-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{Succession box| before = Mustafa Merlika-Kruja| title = Prime Minister of Albania |years=19 January 1943 – 13 February 1943| after = Maliq Bushati}}
{{Succession box| before = Maliq Bushati| title = Prime Minister of Albania |years=12 May 1943 – 8 September 1943| after = Rexhep Mitrovica}}
{{s-end}}
{{Prime Ministers of Albania}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Libohova, Eqrem Bej}}
Category:People from Gjirokastër
Category:People from Janina vilayet
Category:Albanian Fascist Party politicians
Category:Government ministers of Albania
Category:Prime ministers of Albania
Category:State auditors of Albania
Category:Members of the Chamber of Fasces and Corporations
Category:Albanian collaborators with Fascist Italy
Category:Ambassadors of Albania to Italy
Category:Ambassadors of Albania to France
{{Albania-politician-stub}}