<item><hi format=bold>Independence:</hi> 28 November 1912 (from Ottoman Empire)
<item><hi format=bold>National holiday:</hi> Liberation Day, 28 November (1944; changed by decree on 12 November 1993)
<item><hi format=bold>Constitution:</hi> an interim basic law was approved by the People's Assembly on 29 April 1991; a new constitution was to be drafted for adoption in 1992, but is still in process
<item><hi format=bold>Legal system:</hi> has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
<item><hi format=bold>Suffrage:</hi> 18 years of age, universal and compulsory
<item><hi format=bold>Executive branch:</hi>
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<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of state:</hi> President of the Republic Sali BERISHA (since 9 April 1992)
<item>• <hi format=ital>head of government:</hi> Prime Minister of the Council of Ministers Aleksander Gabriel MEKSI (since 10 April 1992)
<item>• <hi format=ital>cabinet:</hi> Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
<item><hi format=bold>People's Assembly (Kuvendi Popullor):</hi> elections last held 22 March 1992; results—DP 62.29%, ASP 25.57%, SDP 4.33%, RP 3.15%, UHP 2.92%, other 1.74%; seats—(140 total) DP 92, ASP 38, SDP 7, RP 1, UHP 2
<item><hi format=bold>Political parties and leaders:</hi> there are at least 18 political parties; most prominent are the Albanian Socialist Party (ASP; formerly the Albania Workers Party), Fatos NANO, first secretary; Democratic Party (DP), Eduard SELAMI, chairman; Albanian Republican Party (RP), Sabri GODO; Omonia (Greek minority party), leader NA (ran in 1992 election as Unity for Human Rights Party (UHP)); Social Democratic Party (SDP), Skender GJINUSHI; Democratic Alliance Party (DAP), Spartak NGJELA, chairman