The June Revolution as a Deep Crisis of the Constitutional Order: Constitution of Albanian State June – December 1924

Abstract

The threshold of 1924 found political Albania with the formation of a Constitutional Assembly, which was a political product of the elections of December 1923. Moreover, the opposition had not managed to win the elections and was represented in the Assembly by 35 deputies, while the "Bloc government had 40 seats", at the time when the other seats were occupied by the "independents". This result put the opposition in a difficult position, at a time when it had calculated and had political confidence that it would come to power. Faced with this situation, the opposition began to articulate the idea that the composition of the Constituent Assembly did not correspond to the real ratio of political forces in Albania, therefore it warned of a fierce not only political war both inside and outside the political institutions. Meanwhile, the opposition press intensified the political struggle and precisely, on February 25, 1924, addressed the Supreme Council through a statement on the issue of "continuing the government". In her opposition judgment, she predicted "complete destruction and internal and external confusion", which could be fatal for the future of the new Albanian state. Under these conditions, the opposition proposed the formation of a new government, outside of which Amet Zogu and other members of the government had to remain. On the other hand, a new prime minister was proposed, who had to enjoy the confidence of all opposition groups. In the end, the opposition expressed its willingness to accept any other proposal, which would be designated by the Supreme Council, which would be authorized by all political groups, for the formation of a new government cabinet. While, at the end, the statement was accompanied by a typical radical spirit: if the opposition's proposal was not taken into account, it "relinquished the responsibility of the fatal conclusions that derive from a cabinet as opposed to the one in power"

Received: 20 October 2023 / Accepted: 16 December 2023 / Published: 23 December 2023