Ilir Meta

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Ilir Meta

| image = Ilir Meta at the Enthronement of Naruhito (1).jpg

| caption = Meta in 2018

| alt = Head shot of Meta smiling with an Albanian flag in the background

| honorific-prefix =

| office = President of Albania

| primeminister = Edi Rama

| term_start = 24 July 2017

| term_end = 24 July 2022

| predecessor = Bujar Nishani

| successor = Bajram Begaj

| office1 = Prime Minister of Albania

| president1 = Rexhep Meidani

| term_start1 = 29 October 1999

| term_end1 = 29 January 2002

| predecessor1 = Pandeli Majko

| successor1 = Pandeli Majko

| office2 = Speaker of the Parliament of Albania

| term_start2 = 10 September 2013

| term_end2 = 24 July 2017

| predecessor2 = Jozefina Topalli

| successor2 = Valentina Leskaj (Acting)

| office3 = 47th Minister of Foreign Affairs

| primeminister3 = Sali Berisha

| term_start3 = 17 September 2009

| term_end3 = 17 September 2010

| predecessor3 = Lulzim Basha

| successor3 = Edmond Haxhinasto

| primeminister4 = Fatos Nano

| term_start4 = 31 July 2002

| term_end4 = 18 July 2003

| predecessor4 = Arta Dade

| successor4 = Luan Hajdaraga (Acting)

| birth_name = Ilir Rexhep Meta

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1969|3|24|df=y}}

| birth_place = Çorovodë, Skrapar, PR Albania

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Freedom Party (2022–ongoing)

| otherparty = Independent (2017–2022)
Socialist Movement for Integration (2004–2017)
Socialist Party (1990–2004)

| spouse = {{marriage|Monika Kryemadhi|1998|2024|end=divorced}}

| children = 3

| signature = Ilir Meta (nënshkrim).svg

}}

Ilir Rexhep Meta ({{IPA|sq|iliɾ meta}}; born 24 March 1969) is an Albanian former politician who served as President of Albania from 2017 to 2022.{{cite web|title=Ilir Meta zgjidhet president i Shqipërisë|url=https://rtsh.al/lajme/ilir-meta-zgjidhet-president-i-shqiperise/|website=rtsh.al|language=sq|date=28 April 2017|access-date=14 June 2017|archive-date=20 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420051420/https://www.rtsh.al/lajme/ilir-meta-zgjidhet-president-i-shqiperise/|url-status=dead}}

Previously Meta served as Prime Minister from 1999 to 2002 and he was Speaker of the Parliament of Albania from 2013 to 2017.[http://www.parlament.al parlament.al] Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Albania He also held positions as Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs and Minister of Economy, Trade, and Energy. Prior to that, he held the Chairmanship of the Parliamentary Commission of European Integration. He founded the Socialist Movement for Integration in 2004.

On 28 April 2017, Meta was elected President of Albania, receiving 87 votes from the 140 Members of Parliament.{{cite news|title=Ilir Meta, president i ri i Shqipërisë|url=http://telegrafi.com/ilir-meta-presidenti-ri-shqiperise/|date=28 April 2017|language=sq}} On 9 June 2021, he was formally impeached by the Albanian parliament in a 104 to 7 vote making him the first Albanian president in history to be impeached by parliament.{{Cite web|title=Albania parliament impeaches President Ilir Meta, removes him from office |url=https://www.dw.com/en/albania-parliament-impeaches-president-ilir-meta-removes-him-from-office/a-57830015|access-date=2022-02-21|website=DW.COM|language=en-GB}} On 16 February 2022 the Constitutional Court of Albania overturned the impeachment and ruled that the accusations against him did not violate the constitution.{{Cite web|date=2022-02-17|title=Constitutional court overturns impeachment of Albania's president|url=https://www.euronews.com/2022/02/17/ilir-meta-constitutional-court-overturns-impeachment-of-albania-s-president|access-date=2022-02-21|website=euronews|language=en}}

Life and career

= 1969–2004: Beginnings and Prime Minister =

Ilir Meta was born in Çepan, Skrapar. He graduated at the Faculty of Economics and Politics branch of the University of Tirana, where he also pursued his post-graduate studies.

Meta has been engaged in politics since 1990, after the fall of communism in Albania, as an active participant in the students' movement against one-party rule, which brought political pluralism in Albania. Since 1992 he has been elected Member of Parliament in all legislatures, and has been an active member of several Parliamentary Commissions. From 1996 to 1997 he was Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Commission of Parliament.

From October 1998 to October 1999, Meta was Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Coordination, as well as State Secretary for European Integration in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in March–October 1998.{{Citation needed|date=July 2021}}

In 2004, Meta left the Socialist Party of Albania (PS) and founded his own party, the Socialist Movement for Integration (LSI). From 2004 to 2006, Meta was nominated as a member of the International Commission on the Balkans, chaired by the former Prime Minister of Italy, Giuliano Amato. The Commission drafted a series of important recommendations towards the integration of the Western Balkan countries into the European Union.[http://www.cls-sofia.org/en/projects/europe-and-the-world-19/balkans-19/international-commission-on-the-balkans-47.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171008152026/http://www.cls-sofia.org/en/projects/europe-and-the-world-19/balkans-19/international-commission-on-the-balkans-47.html|date=8 October 2017}} International Commission on the Balkans

Meta became Prime Minister on 29 October 1999. At age 30 he was the second-youngest prime minister in Albanian history after Zog I, who was 27 at the time of his election in 1922. Following the 2001 parliamentary election, he initially remained Prime Minister. The President of Albania, Rexhep Meidani, approved the Government of Albania on 7 September 2001. Five days afterward, the government gave a vote of confidence to Meta's Cabinet. However, the formation of the new cabinet took almost three months.{{cite web|title=Balkan Report: September 18, 2001|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/1341158.html|website=rferl.org|language=en|date=18 September 2001}} On 29 January 2002, Meta announced his resignation as Prime Minister due to party infighting between the Socialist Party leader Fatos Nano and himself. Pandeli Majko was elected Prime Minister on 22 February 2002.

During this period, Albania engaged in a range of important reforms, joining the Stabilisation and Association Process with the European Union.

= 2009–2016: Deputy Prime Minister =

In the 2009 parliamentary election, the Socialist Movement for Integration (LSI) won four seats in the Parliament of Albania, with 4.8% of the total vote. The party along with PSV91 became the determining parties to form the government coalition.{{cite web|title=Election campaign with the taste of blood|url=http://pdc.ceu.hu/archive/00005683/01/IFIMES-ALBANIA-JUNE_ELECTIONS_2009-ENG.doc.|publisher=International Institute for Middle-East and Balkan Studies|access-date=6 September 2012|date=24 June 2009}}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} On 16 September 2009, the LSI allied with the Democratic Party of Albania (PD) to form the government coalition.{{cite book|author1=Marc Stegherr|author2=Kerstin Liesem|title=Die Medien in Osteuropa: Mediensysteme Im Transformationsprozess|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OukiBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA159|date=13 August 2010|publisher=Springer-Verlag|isbn=978-3-531-92487-8|page=159}}

With the formation of the new government led by Democratic Party chairman Sali Berisha, Meta became the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs at the same time.{{cite web|title=Qeveria e dytë e Sali Berishës (16 shtator 2009 – 10 shtator 2013)|url=http://shtetiweb.org/2013/02/10/qeveria-e-dyte-e-sali-berishes-16-shtator-2009/|website=shtetiweb.org|date=10 February 2013 |language=sq}} He was an early and vocal campaigner for the visa-free with the Schengen Area, which was accomplished in 2010. He remains one of the most vocal campaigners and advocates of regional and European integration for all countries of the Western Balkans, as a means to further strengthen stability and peace in the region.{{Citation needed|date=July 2021}}

In 2011, Meta served as the Minister of Economy, Trade, and Energy in the center-right government of Sali Berisha, whose Democratic Party of Albania the LSI joined after the 2009 parliamentary election.

In the run-up to the eighth multi-party elections held in 2013, Meta and the Socialist Movement for Integration (LSI) left the coalition with the Democratic Party (PD) established in 2009, to transfer over to the Socialist Party (PS). The result of the elections was a victory for the Alliance for a European Albania containing with LSI led by the PS and its leader, Edi Rama.{{cite news|title=Sieg der Sozialisten|url=http://www.taz.de/!5064570/|newspaper=Die Tageszeitung: Taz|language=de|date=25 June 2013}} On 10 September 2013, Parliament elected Meta as Chairman of Parliament by a vote of 91 to 45.{{cite web|url=https://sot.com.al/politike/ilir-meta-zgjidhet-n%C3%AB-krye-t%C3%AB-kuvendit-me-91-vota-t%C3%AB-l%C3%ABm%C3%AB-pas-frym%C3%ABn-konfliktuale-t%C3%AB|title=Ilir Meta zgjidhet në krye të Kuvendit me 91 vota: Të lëmë pas frymën konfliktuale, të punojmë për integrimin|website=sot.com.al|language=sq|date=10 September 2023|access-date=28 September 2023}}

= 2017–2022: Presidency =

{{See also|2017 Albanian presidential election|List of presidential trips made by Ilir Meta}}

On 28 April 2017, Meta was elected President of the Republic of Albania at the fourth ballot with 87 votes out of 140. He took office on 24 July 2017. In the ceremony, he was accompanied solely by his children, as his wife Monika Kryemadhi refused the title of First Lady because of her political engagement as leader of the party her husband founded, with their daughter, Era Meta, serving as the de facto First Lady.

On 26 November 2019, an earthquake struck the Durrës region of Albania, killing 51 people, injuring 3,000 others, and damaging 11,000 buildings.{{Cite web|url=https://www.jns.org/albanian-president-thanks-israeli-soldiers-for-aid-after-deadly-earthquake/|title=Albanian president thanks Israeli soldiers for aid after deadly earthquake; Ilir Meta stopped at the Ramla military base, where he awarded the "Golden Eagle Decoration" to the IDF's National Rescue Unit.|date=24 January 2020|website=JNS}} In January 2020, Meta met with Israel Defense Forces soldiers in Israel, and thanked them for their assistance in earthquake relief efforts, awarding the Albanian Golden Medal of the Eagle to the soldiers' unit.{{cite news|title=Albanian president thanks Israeli soldiers for aid after deadly earthquake|url=https://www.jns.org/albanian-president-thanks-israeli-soldiers-for-aid-after-deadly-earthquake/|agency=Jewish News Syndicate (JNS)|date=24 January 2020|access-date=31 January 2020|df=dmy-all}}

As was the case with his predecessor, during his term of office his main focus has been the European integration process of Albania and global challenges affecting Albania. Meta has underscored the willingness of Albanians to strengthen its bilateral strategic partnerships with all partner countries in the areas of security and NATO.{{Cite web|url=https://balkaneu.com/president-meta-to-trump-us-presence-is-a-key-factor-for-the-stability-of-the-region/|title=President Meta to Trump: US presence is a key factor for the stability of the region|date=4 July 2018|access-date=23 April 2021|archive-date=26 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826183007/https://www.balkaneu.com//president-meta-to-trump-us-presence-is-a-key-factor-for-the-stability-of-the-region/|url-status=dead}}

Controversies

= Videotaped bribe scandal =

On 11 January 2011, the TV programme Fiks Fare on Top Channel broadcast a videotape recorded by hidden camera in the Ministry of Economy containing conversations between the Economy Minister at the time Dritan Prifti and then Deputy Prime Minister Ilir Meta. The videotape starts with Meta asking Prifti to intervene in a concession tender for the hydropower plant Egnatia-Shushicë in exchange for €700,000 and 7% of the shares. It then shows Meta requesting Prifti to award the auction for the sale of crude oil to Halilaj Holding Group in exchange for €1 million.{{Cite web |title=Meta and Prifti corruption scandal (disputed videotape evidence) |url=https://www.transparency.org/en/projects/cases-project/data/meta-and-prifti-corruption-scandal-disputed-videotape-evidence |access-date=2022-08-18 |website=Transparency.org |language=en}}

Meta then continues by asking Prifti to hire activists from their party, the Socialist Movement for Integration (LSI) at the time now renamed Freedom Party (PL). The party was the junior government partner in the government of then Prime Minister Sali Berisha, and controlled the ministries of Economy, Foreign Affairs and Health.{{Cite web |title=Corruption Caught on Tape Sets Albania on Fire Once More |url=https://www.againstcorruption.eu/articles/corruption-caught-on-tape/ |access-date=2022-08-18 |website=ERCAS |language=en-US}}

Meta is overheard bragging that because he is on good terms with Chief Justice Shpresa Becaj, after having hired her daughter as a diplomat at an embassy he can influence the decision of the court. He then asks Prifti to keep the affair quiet because he is afraid the prosecutor’s office might open an investigation if it learns about it.{{Cite web |date=2011-01-12 |title=Albania Hit by Video Corruption Scandal |url=https://balkaninsight.com/2011/01/12/albania-hit-by-video-corruption-scandal/ |access-date=2022-08-18 |website=Balkan Insight |language=en-US}}

This forced him to resign as deputy Prime Minister of Albania, even though he claimed innocence.{{Cite web |date=2011-01-18 |title=Albanian deputy PM quits following videotaped bribe scandal |url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/albanian-deputy-pm-quits-following-videotaped-bribe-scandal/ |access-date=2022-07-30 |website=www.euractiv.com |language=en-GB}}{{cite web |url= https://www.reuters.com/article/albania-lawmaker-corruption/albanian-whistleblower-to-face-corruption-charges-idUSKOL45895020110224 |title= Albanian whistleblower to face corruption charges |date= 24 February 2011 |publisher= Reuters |access-date= 7 August 2022}}

= Impeachment =

On 9 June 2021, Meta was impeached by the Albanian parliament for violating the constitution and discharged from the post of president. The parliament accused him of being biased and partisan during the April 2021 parliamentary elections, and of inciting violence and instability.{{cite news |title=Albania parliament impeaches president for violating constitution |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/6/9/ilir-meta-who-held-the-largely-ceremonial-role-has-regularly-cl |work=www.aljazeera.com |language=en}} The motion was put forward by the ruling Socialist Party of Albania and 104 MP's voted for his impeachment.{{cite news |title=Albanian MPs have just voted to impeach their president. Here's why |url=https://www.euronews.com/2021/06/09/albanian-mps-have-just-voted-to-impeach-their-president-here-s-why |access-date=9 June 2021 |work=euronews |date=9 June 2021 }} On 16 February 2022 the Constitutional Court of Albania overturned the impeachment and ruled that the evidence against Meta did not amount to the a violation of the constitution. As such, Meta continued as President until the expiration of his term on 24 July 2022.{{Cite news|last=Sinoruka|first=Fjori|date=17 February 2022|title=Albania President Wins Constitutional Battle to Stay in Office|work=Balkan Insight|url=https://balkaninsight.com/2022/02/17/albania-president-wins-constitutional-battle-to-stay-in-office/|url-status=live|access-date=17 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217115145/https://balkaninsight.com/2022/02/17/albania-president-wins-constitutional-battle-to-stay-in-office/|archive-date=17 February 2022}}

= Sigurimi Informer =

On 27 July 2022, the Albanian Authority for Information on Former State Security Documents (AIDSSH) forwarded to Parliament the identity of the high profile political figure referred to as “I.M.” in the initial report.

{{blockquote |text=Following our previous requests and proposals, but especially being encouraged by the most recent denunciation that came to the institution on the purity of the image of one of the highest personalities of the state, former president of the Republic, Ilir Metaj… it turns out that he actually appears in the documents created by the former State Intelligence Structure |author=AIDSSH}}

Two former commissions were established to run background checks on politicians and their ties to the communist regime awarded Meta a “purity certificate”.{{Cite web |date=2022-07-27 |title=Former President Ilir Meta's Name Appears in Communist Intelligence Files |url=https://exit.al/en/2022/07/27/former-president-ilir-metas-name-appears-in-communist-intelligence-files/ |access-date=2022-07-30 |website=Exit - Explaining Albania |language=en-US}} Meta also denied the claims and slammed the Authority for Information on Former State Security Documents, calling it the “Manipulations Authority”.{{Cite web |date=2022-07-28 |title='Communist Informer' Controversy Hits Albanian Ex-President's Comeback |url=https://balkaninsight.com/2022/07/28/communist-informer-controversy-hits-albanian-ex-presidents-comeback/ |access-date=2022-07-30 |website=Balkan Insight |language=en-US}}

= Lobbying =

Kronen Zeitung published an article in which Meta is accused of lobbying via a shell company, the article claims Meta paid $700,000 through a Cypriot shell company to gain access to the 2017 inauguration of Donald Trump.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-16 |title=Kronzeuge sucht Schutz in Wien: Krimi um Präsident |url=https://www.krone.at/2708306 |access-date=2022-08-05 |website=Kronen Zeitung |language=de}} On 20 January 2017 Meta shared a photo of himself and SMI leader Petrit Vasili at social media during the inauguration of Donald Trump in Capitol, Washington, D.C.. Meta claims to have been invited by the Republican Party, but according to a US court documents, "$700,000 of a lawyer (who is) close to Meta went through the off shore company Dorelita Limited. Socialist Movement for Integration signed a contract with the alleged lawyer a few weeks prior the Inauguration.{{Cite web |title=Austrian newspaper accuses Meta: Lobbying $ 700 thousand with 'offshore' company, reacts Presidency: Defamation lawsuit ready |url=https://politiko.al/english/ditari-politik/gazeta-austriake-akuza-metes-lobim-700-mije-me-kompani-offshore-r-i459930?dicbo=v2-c5e44be2d2df3eae5ec39e70a6e2bada&? |access-date=2022-08-05 |website=politiko.al}}

= Arrest =

On 21 October 2024, Ilir Meta was arrested after returning from a news conference in neighboring Kosovo after an investigation was conducted by SPAK on suspicion of corruption, money laundering and hiding personal income and property, according to Freedom Party spokesman Tedi Blushi. This marks the second major arrest of a former president in Albania after Sali Berisha’s house arrest.{{Cite web |agency=Associated Press |title=Albania's former president Meta is arrested for alleged corruption |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/10/21/albania-meta-former-president-arrest-corruption/ae96caee-8fa8-11ef-b5b1-75167840d9f3_story.html |access-date=October 21, 2024 |website=Washington Post}} On 27 May 2025, he was formally charged with corruption, money laundering, tax evasion and hiding property from authorities.{{Cite web |work=Associated Press |title=Albanian ex-President Ilir Meta charged with corruption and money laundering |url=https://apnews.com/article/albania-corruption-former-president-ilir-meta-charged-8fb2c1d9ab32d9983c2114d6426bb227 |access-date=28 May 2025}}

Personal life

Meta is a Bektashi Muslim, and adherent to traditional Bektashi values.{{cite web|date=23 March 2017|title=FOTO/ Familja Meta, feston me entuziazëm festën e Bektashinjve|url=http://www.standard.al/2017/03/23/foto-familja-meta-feston-me-entuziazem-festen-e-bektashinjve/|website=standard.al|language=sq}} He is fluent in Albanian, English and Italian.{{Cite web|title=Biography|url=https://president.al/en/biografia/|access-date=2021-07-04|website=Presidenti i Republikës së Shqipërisë|language=en-US}} He is an ardent supporter of Celtic FC, often showing his passion for the club on social media. In July 2020, he founded the first Celtic Supporters Club in Albania.{{cite web|title='Praise God, today one year ago, I met Celtic fans in Sarajevo,' Albanian President, Ilir Meta|url=https://thecelticstar.com/praise-god-today-one-year-ago-i-met-celtic-fans-in-sarajevo-albanian-president-ilir-meta/|website=The Celtic Star|date=9 July 2020 }}

Meta was married to Monika Kryemadhi until June 2024 when they get divorced, they proclaimed this was caused by political nepotism and other personal consequences.{{Cite web |date=2024-06-22 |title=Albania's Power Couple, Meta and Kryemadhi, Get Divorced |work=Balkan Insight |url=https://balkaninsight.com/2024/06/21/albania-political-couple-meta-kryemadhi-getting-a-divorce/ |access-date=2024-06-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240622014208/https://balkaninsight.com/2024/06/21/albania-political-couple-meta-kryemadhi-getting-a-divorce/ |archive-date=22 June 2024 }} They have two daughters and a son.

Honours and awards

{{flag|Croatia}}:
70px Grand Cross of the Grand Order of King Tomislav (29 October 2019)
{{flag|Monaco}}:
70px Grand Cross of the Order of Saint-Charles (16 October 2019)

In March 2012, Meta received "Most Positive Personality for 2010 in Foreign Policy" award by International Institute "IFIMES" in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The award was presented to Meta by former President of Croatia, Stjepan Mesić, who was at the same time the Honorary President of "IFIMES".

Meta has also been honored by several cities and regions of Albania with the title "Honorary Citizen".