Toptani Government

The Toptani Government was the 3rd ruling government of Albania, formed on 5 October 1914.

Toptani Government
3rd Government of Albania
1914–1916
Date formed	5 October 1914 (1914-10-05)
Date dissolved	27 January 1916 (1916-01-27)
People and organisations
Prime Minister	Esad Toptani
No. of ministers	6
History
Predecessor	Përmeti I Government
Successor	Government of Durrës

Overview

The lack of governance in Albania created a chance for Essad Toptani, who had fled the country due to his discord with members in the Përmeti I Government, to return one last time and form an alliance with the Entente. Toptani announced the dissolution of the revolutionary bodies and appointed new prefects throughout the country. On October 21, 1914, he undertook the first agrarian reform in Albania, when he issued the order to confiscate the properties of about 50 wealthy landowners and other political opponents, an order which due to the circumstances of that time was never implemented.^[1]

Esad also focused his attention to counter the Greek offensive in southern Albania, following the proclamation by the greek authorities on October 27, 1914 of the so called Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus.

He requested from the presidencies of the councils of Elbasan, Berat and Vlorë to compile lists for the wounded soldiers in the Shkodër War and in the uprising against the monarch Prince Wilhelm.^[2]

Giving importance to the establishment of law and order, Toptani ordered work to begin on amassing cadastral records burned by the insurgents. Although impartial during the war, in December 1915, after expelling the diplomatic representatives of Vienna and Sofia from Durrës, Esad declared war on Austria-Hungary. Toptani extended the rule of his government in a larger part of the territory than the previous governments had done but he never quite fully took control of the whole country.^[3]

Cabinet

Toptani Government

Essad Toptani – Prime Minister

Sali Toro – Minister of Justice

Shahin Dino – Minister of Internal Affairs

Nexhati Libohova – Minister of Finances (assassinated; replaced by Haxhi Isuf Banka on 27 May 1915)

Aziz Vrioni – Minister of Public Works

Isuf Dibra – Minister of War

Pavli Terka – Foreign Minister

See also

• Politics of Albania
• Esad Toptani