Manush Myftiu
Manush Myftiu (January 16, 1919 – October 20, 1997) was an Albanian politician during the country's socialist period.
Biography
Myftiu was born in Vlora to a family of Muslim landowners. In 1939 he graduated from a Classical Lycée in Rome and while in his hometown joined a communist cell. From 1940–41 he studied at the Medical Faculty of the University of Turin but did not complete his studies, returning to Vlora where he was obliged to join the Albanian Fascist Youth. While a member of it he simultaneously remained a member of a communist cell, carrying out clandestine activities against fascism and becoming a member of the Communist Party of Albania (from 1948 the Party of Labour of Albania) after it was founded. During the war he became Commissar of the Fifth Partisan Brigade, commissar of the First Combat Division, and was attached to the Fifth and Eighth Brigades of the First Army Corps.
Afterwards, among other positions, he served as a deputy to the People's Assembly, as its Chairman from 1947–9, as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1949, Minister without portfolio from 1949–50, Acting Minister of Justice in 1951, Minister of Health from 1956–8, Minister of Education from 1958–65, and Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers from 1976–90.
During the war he served as a member of the Vlora District Party Committee. From 1966–76 he was First Secretary of the Tirana District Party Committee. He became a member of the Party of Labour's Central Committee in 1948, a candidate member of its Politburo in 1952, and a full member of the Politburo from 1956–90.
In 1994 he was sentenced to five years in prison on the charge of abusing his powers during his time in office, but was released on account of his advanced age.
References
- Elsie, Robert. A Biographical Dictionary of Albanian History. London: I.B. Tauris. 2012. p. 324.
- Skendi, Stavro (ed). Albania. New York: Frederick A. Praeger. 1956. pp. 334–335.