Bashkim Fino

Bashkim Fino (born 12 October 1962 in Gjirokastër) is an Albanian socialist politician who served as the 29th[1] Prime Minister of Albania.

Bashkim Fino MP
Member of the Albanian Parliament for Fier
Incumbent
Assumed office September 9, 2017 (2017-09-09)
29th Prime Minister of Albania
In office March 11, 1997 (1997-03-11) – July 24, 1997 (1997-07-24)
President	Sali Berisha
Preceded by	Aleksandër Meksi
Succeeded by	Fatos Nano
Deputy Prime Minister of Albania
In office July 25, 1997 (1997-07-25) – April 23, 1998 (1998-04-23)
Prime Minister	Fatos Nano
Preceded by	Tritan Shehu
Succeeded by	Makbule Çeço
Minister of Local Government
In office November 28, 1999 (1999-11-28) – September 6, 2001 (2001-09-06)
Prime Minister	Ilir Meta
Preceded by	Arben Demeti
Succeeded by	Arben Imami
Mayor of Gjirokastër
In office 1992 (1992) – 1996 (1996)
Minister of Public Works and Tourism
In office September 6, 2001 (2001-09-06) – January 29, 2002 (2002-01-29)
Prime Minister	Ilir Meta
In office December 29, 2003 (2003-12-29) – September 1, 2005 (2005-09-01)
Prime Minister	Fatos Nano
Personal details
Born	(1962-10-12) 12 October 1962 Gjirokastër
Nationality	Albanian
Political party	Socialist
Alma mater	University of Tirana
Signature

Fino studied economics in Tirana and the United States. After this, he worked as an economist in Gjirokastër,[2] and in 1992 became its mayor. He is married and has two children.

On the 11 March 1997 Democratic Party President Sali Berisha appointed Fino, a member of the opposition Socialist Party of Albania, Prime Minister in order to lead a government of national unity. This came after rebellion broke out over the collapse of several pyramid schemes leading to the government losing control of much of the country.[3] Fino was Prime Minister through the 1997 elections where his Socialist Party won a large majority before he stepped down and was succeeded by his party leader Fatos Nano.[4]

As of 2014, Fino is a Member of Parliament representing a constituency in Korçë District.[5] Fino is a lecturer in Political Academy of the Socialist Party of Albania.

Fino is a devoted fan of Italian football team Inter Milan. In January 2018 he declared his intention to run for president of the Albanian Football Federation, challenging Armand Duka, the incumbent president of the last 16 years. The elections held on February 7, 2018, were lost by Fino, although he claimed that the voting process was irregular and that he would appeal to UEFA and FIFA.