Editing History of Albania (section)

=== Transition ===
[[File:EPP Congress Marseille 6007 (6472666909).jpg|220px|thumb|right|[[Sali Berisha]] of the [[Democratic Party of Albania|Democratic Party]] became the second [[President of Albania|President]] of the Republic.]]

In 1985, [[Ramiz Alia]] became the [[Presidents of Albania|first]] [[President of Albania]]. Alia tried to follow in [[Enver Hoxha]]'s footsteps, but the changes had already started and the [[Fall of communism|collapse of communism]] throughout [[Europe]] led to widespread changes within the society of Albania. [[Mikhail Gorbachev]] had appeared in the [[Soviet Union]] with new rules and policies ([[glasnost]] and [[perestroika]]). However, Alia took similar steps, signing the [[Helsinki Agreement]] and allowing [[pluralism (political theory)|pluralism]] under pressure from students and workers.<ref name="muse.jhu.edu">{{cite journal |doi = 10.1353/jod.1991.0035|url = http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/journal_of_democracy/election_watch/v002/index.html|url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060425092916/http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/journal_of_democracy/election_watch/v002/index.html |archive-date=25 April 2006|title = Election Watch|journal = Journal of Democracy|volume = 2|number =3|date = Summer 1991|pages = 115–117|publisher = Johns Hopkins University Press }}</ref> Afterwards, the first [[multi-party elections]] took place since the communists assumed power in Albania. The [[Socialist Party of Albania|Socialist Party]] led by Ramiz Alia won the [[Albanian Constitutional Assembly election, 1991|1991 elections]].<ref name="muse.jhu.edu" /> Nevertheless, it was clear that the change would not be stopped. Pursuant to a 29 April 1991 interim [[basic law]], [[Albanians]] ratified a [[Constitution of Albania|constitution]] on 28 November 1998, establishing a [[Democracy|democratic system]] of government based upon the [[rule of law]] and guaranteeing the protection of [[fundamental human rights]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Albania 1998 (rev. 2012) Constitution - Constitute |url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Albania_2012 |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=www.constituteproject.org |language=en}}</ref>

Furthermore, the Communists retained support and governmental control in the first round of elections under the interim law, but fell two months later during a general strike. A committee of "national salvation" took over but also collapsed in half a year. On 22 March 1992, the Communists were trumped by the [[Democratic Party of Albania|Democratic Party]] after winning the [[Albanian parliamentary election, 1992|1992 parliamentary elections]].<ref>{{cite journal|doi =  10.1353/jod.1992.0042|url = http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/journal_of_democracy/election_watch/v003/index.html#v003.3|url-status = dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060425092923/http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/journal_of_democracy/election_watch/v003/index.html#v003.3 |archive-date=25 April 2006 |title = Election Watch|journal = Journal of Democracy|volume =3|number =3 |date= July 1992|pages = 154–157|publisher = Johns Hopkins University Press }}</ref> The transition from the [[socialist state]] to a [[parliamentary system]] had many challenges. The Democratic Party had to implement the reforms it had promised, but they were either too slow or did not solve the problems, so the people were disappointed when their hopes for fast prosperity went unfulfilled.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}