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'Fatos Thanas Nano' (born September 16, 1952 in Tirana) is a Member of the Albanian Parliament, representing Sarandë constituency. He was Prime Minister of Albania during several periods and a former leader of the Socialist Party of Albania. Nano has a degree in political economy as well as a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Tirana.
After the fall of the communist dictatorship in 1991, he was nominated for the post of Prime Minister in 1991 in the transitional government whose purpose was the organisation of the first democratic elections in the country. A few months later, after many popular protests and strikes, he resigned. In 1991 he was elected leader of the Socialist Party. In March 1992 the Democratic Party of Albania won the elections.
Nano was imprisoned in 1993 after he was found guilty of theft. During 1994, Ponzi schemes were installed in Albania, and it is alleged that he and his party played a key role in creating, managing and using those for political profit. Their collapse in 1997 caused the beginning of an armed popular revolt and Sali Berisha was forced to resign. Nano was discharged and released. That same year, following general elections, Nano was appointed Prime Minister by President Dr. Rexhep Meidani, only to resign again in 1998 after a coup d'état attempted by radical followers of the Democratic Party of Albania. This coup was attempted during the funeral of an assassinated opposition leader, Azem Hajdari. The Socialist Party continued to lead the country and won the elections of June 2001.
Nano became Prime Minister for the third time on July 25, 2002, appointed by President Alfred Moisiu. On 3 July 2005, the Socialist Party lost the elections and its majority in parliament. The Democratic Party gained a majority and Sali Berisha was nominated Prime Minister of the new government. On 1 September 2005, Nano resigned his leadership of the Socialist Party.
Nano stood as a presidential candidate in a round of voting in parliament on 8 July 2007, part of the election to replace Moisiu. Most members of the opposition coalition led by the Socialist Party did not support him, however, and chose to boycott the election. Nano received only three votes, while Bamir Topi of the Democratic Party won 75 votes. Topi did not receive enough votes to be elected, however.^[1][2] The second round of voting for electing the president was held on July 10. The parliament still failed to elect a president, with Nano getting five votes and Topi receiving 74. Continued failure to elect a president will result in an early parliamentary election.^[3]
In late August, it appeared likely he would found a new political party after falling out with the Socialist Party.^[4]

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See also

References

See also

★ History of Albania

★ Politics of Albania

References

1. "Albanian parliament set to vote for new president", Associated Press (''International Herald Tribune''), July 8, 2007.
2. "Albania edges toward elections after presidential vote fails", Associated Press (''International Herald Tribune''), July 9, 2007.
3. "Standoff in Parliamentary Ballot to Pick New Albanian President", birn.eu.com, July 11, 2007.
4. http://www.dtt-net.com/en/index.php?page=view-article&article=2601