(1925-) Albanian communist politician, head of state 1982–92. He gradually relaxed the isolationist policies of his predecessor Enver Hoxha and following public unrest introduced political and economic reforms, including free elections 1991, when he was elected executive president. In 1994 Alia was convicted of abuse of power while in office and sentenced to nine years' imprisonment.
Born in Shkod��r in NW Albania, the son of poor Muslim peasants, Alia joined the National Liberation Army 1944, actively opposing Nazi control. After a period in charge of agitation and propaganda, Alia was inducted into the secretariat and politburo of the ruling Party of Labour of Albania (PLA) 1960–61. On the death of Hoxha April 1985 he became party leader, soon earning the description of the Albanian Gorbachev. In April 1991, he was elected executive president of the Republic of Albania, following the PLA's victory in multiparty elections. A month later, in conformity with the provisions of the new interim constitution, which debarred the Republic's president from holding party office, he resigned as PLA first secretary and from its politburo and central committee. Sali Berisha replaced Alia as president March 1992. + prikaži više