The five days of the Congress of Lushnja (1920) and its decisions

By: Kastriot Dervishi

The Congress of Lushnja is the most important event after the Assembly of Vlora in 1912, and the Congress of Durres in 1918. It was held in the conditions when Albania was in danger of dismemberment in the conditions of the end of the First World War. Austria-Hungary no longer existed, while Italy had different goals towards Albania than those of 1912-1914. The Congress was organized under British instigation, by Consul Eden and carried out this policy. The first character of the Congress was anti-Italian. The only winner of the First World War, Esat Toptani (elected the delegates of Tirana) and the entire losing class of this war who had been with Austria-Hungary (the main organizers of the congress) joined this line, agreeing to govern Albania in 1913 -s.

January 21, 1920

At 10:00 a.m. a meeting was held at Kase Fuga's house. Participation was not complete. The meeting began with a prayer by Sheh Ibrahim Karbunara and Feri Vokopola. For the organizing committee, Aqif Biçakçiu (Elbasani) held a lecture in response to the speech of the hosts. A commission consisting of Ibrahim Ohri, Qazim Kokoshi, Kostaq Kotta, Faslli Frashëri and Adem Gjinishi checked the letter-representations. Since not all delegates had arrived, the meeting closed and resumed work on January 28.

January 28, 1920

At 14:00, the works resumed. The mandates were verified. Xhavit Leskovik delivered the opening speech, on behalf of the initiator group, mentioning the reasons that led to the holding of the national meeting. The chairmanship of the congress was elected:

Aqif Biçakçiu (Elbasani) – chairman.
Sotir Peci – vice president.
Kostaq Kotta - secretary.
Ferit Vokopola – secretary.

Mourning was held for Abdyl Ypi, killed those days, and the meeting closes.

January 29, 1920

The meeting started at 9:00. Congress vice president Sotir Peci presented the agenda of the meeting:

1. The measures to be taken against the decision of the three Entente powers to dismember Albania according to the 1915 London Pact.
2. The election of the new government according to the program that the congress would set.
3. The form of the regime that the Albanian state would temporarily have.
4. Vote of confidence in the interim government.
5. Elections of authorities according to the decision to be given.

To oppose the secret London Pact of 1915, it was decided to hold numerous protests and a 10-member commission was set up. Regarding the Government of Durrës, the congress observed that:

a - He acted outside the scope and program given by the Durrës congress.
b – It has brought obstacles that have led to the non-convening of the Senate.
c - Bad administration has caused anarchy in all parts of Albania.
ç - By supporting specific policies, it has brought a bad political situation in Albania.
e – By using intrigues, he prevented the Lushnja Meeting.

Based on these, the Congress with 45 votes in favor and six against decided to overthrow the government and chose the Albanian delegation to the Peace Conference consisting of Luigj Bumçi, Mehmet Konica and Mihal Turtulli.

January 30, 1920

The meeting started at 9:00. There was talk about the protest to be sent to the Peace Conference as well as the letter to be sent to the US Senate. The letter to be sent to the Italian Parliament was not agreed because it was soft. It was decided to form a commission. Regarding the form of the regime, the monarchy was not opposed, but the creation of the National Council (Senate) in the role of the legislative body of the state and the Supreme Council (KN) in the temporary role of the head of state was decided. The bases of the Code of Canon Law with six points constitute the first functional constitutional node of Albania. The KN, except for the first case in Lushnja, was elected by the legislature. The National Assembly could elect a prime minister in times of crisis. Its function ended with the arrival of the king. After the approval of this "constitutional provision",

Iljaz Vrioni proposed the 4 members of the Upper Council:

1. Aqif Biçakçiu.
2. Abdi Toptani.
3. Mihal Turtulli.
4. Venerable Luigj Bumçi.

They voted unanimously. These last two were decided to remain at the Peace Conference in Paris, while the other two advisers continued their work. Delegate Bektash Cakrani proposed the ministers of the new cabinet:

Sulejman Delvina (prime minister),

Iljaz Vrioni, Ahmet Zogu, Sotir Peci, Ndoc Çoba, Mehmet Konica, who were approved unanimously with the exception of Iljaz Vrioni, who of his own accord gave his place to Hoxha Kadri. Delegate Idhomen Kosturi proposed that the government be sworn in before the king (High Council). The vice-president S. Peci said that it was necessary first for the KN to be sworn in before the congress, and the government before the KN. Aqif Biçakçiu demands that the delegates also swear before the National Assembly. After these, the election of members of the National Council (Senate), the legislative body of the state, began.

A commission of eight members was appointed.

January 31, 1920

The meeting started at 9:00. Delegate Eshref Frashëri said that according to some news, the country has been left without a government and that is why they had to go to Durrës as soon as possible. Iljaz Vrioni said that most of the ministers were not in Lushnje at that moment. In order not to face any ministerial crisis, the division of portfolios and the completion of the government was decided as follows:

Sulejman Delvina – prime minister.
Ahmet Zogu – Minister of Internal Affairs.
Sotir Peci – Minister of Education.
Hoxha Kadri – Minister of Justice.
Hysen Vrioni – deputy minister.
Ndoc Çoba – Minister of Finance.
Idhomen Kosturi – deputy minister

Also, the meeting elected only for this time two general directors: for World Affairs Eshref Frashëri (who would be a kind of deputy prime minister) and for Posts and Telegraphs, Idhomene Kosturi.

The Congress reopened its proceedings at 15:00. It was decided to assign the number of 37 deputies, as well as approve the presented list. At the end, Xhafer Ypi thanked Lushnja and proposed that she be given a special deputy seat in the National Council. Sheh Karbunara took the floor and said that Lushnja only did her duty. Then Eshref Frashëri proposed to write a letter of thanks to the people of Lushnja.

The delegates of Shkodra, Lezha and Gjakova Highlands did not participate in Lushnje and signed the decisions in Tirana on February 13, 1920.