Mustafa Merlika-Kruja
| Mustafa Merlika-Kruja | |
|---|---|
 |
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| 16th Prime Minister of Albania | |
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In office December 4, 1941 – January 19, 1943 |
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| Preceded by | Shefqet Vërlaci |
| Succeeded by | Eqrem Libohova |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 15, 1887 Akçahisar, Scutari Vilayet, Ottoman Empire (modern-day Krujë, Albania) |
| Died | December 27, 1958 (aged 71) Niagara Falls, New York, United States |
| Political party | Albanian Fascist Party |
| Profession | Prime Minister |
Mustafa Merlika-Kruja (March 15, 1887, Akçahisar, Ottoman Empire (modern-day Krujë, Albania) – December 27, 1958, Niagara Falls, New York) was Prime Minister of Albania during the Italian occupation from December 4, 1941 to January 19, 1943, one of the signatories of Albanian Declaration of Independence, and Axis collaborator.
He was born Mustafa Asim Merlika, son of Mehmed. His family was Bektashi. His father was a local administrator of the lands of Essad Pasha, who from his side sponsored the education of Mustafa. According to Albanian sources he studied at the local Rüştiye, then in Yannina, before going to the today's Faculty of Political Science, Ankara University ("Mekteb-i Mülkiye") which he finished in 1910. According to Turkish author Çankaya, he studied at the local school in Elbasan, then in Mercan idadisi in Istambul before entering the Mülkiye. There he learned Turkish and French.
As a student in the Ottoman capital he joined the Revolutionary League ("Cemiyet-i İnkılabiye") against the autocracy of Sultan Abdul Hamid II. After the Young Turk Revolution he worked for supporting the Albanian language at the Mülkiye, and posted articles in the liberal press against the Committee of Union and Progress using the signature "Asim Cenan". Contrary to what Essad Pasha had in mind for him, instead of becoming Kaymakam he preferred a career in education. In 1910 he was appointed secretary of the administration, in the Ministry of Public Education in Istanbul. A year later he was appointed director of the Public Education for the Sanjak of Elbasan, Manastir Vilayet.
After participating as a volunteer in Ottoman army during the Italo-Turkish War in 1912, he joined the Albanian Independence movement. Merlika-Kruja participated in the Assembly of Vlorë of 28 November 1912, and his name appears in the list of signatories of the Independence Act.
In 1913 he joined the Ministry of Education and in 1914 became an adviser of the Ministry of Public Education.
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