The Shehu III Government was a government of the Socialist People's Republic of Albania, formed on July 16, 1962, by Prime Minister Mehmet Shehu of the Party of Labour of Albania (PPSh). It succeeded the Shehu II Government and remained in office until July 14, 1966, when it was replaced by the Shehu IV Government.
The cabinet restructuring followed the parliamentary elections on June 3, 1962. There was a significant expansion of the Council of Ministers, including up to three First Deputy Chairmen and – excluding Beqir Balluku's dual role – up to three Deputy Chairmen. Gogo Nushi was the only member from the previous government who did not continue, but he retained significant roles, including in the Trade Union Federation Bashkimi Sindikal i Shqipërisë. Thus, the break with the Soviet Union in 1961 and the approach to China had no impact on the government of Albania.
The cabinet underwent several changes: On January 1, 1965, the Ministry of Industry, Mining, and Geology was divided into an Ministry of Industry under Koço Theodhosi (already a Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers) and a Ministry of Agriculture under Pirro Dodbiba.SHQIPERIA: SHBA: PPSH 1976 - “Hoxha shumë i sëmurë, nis lufta për pasardhësin” (6. März 2010, albanisch) Simultaneously, Abdyl Këllezi was appointed as the third First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers; Adil Çarçani, the former Minister of Industry, Mining, and Geology, became the third Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers, succeeding Manush Myftiu, who had been treated abroad for an illness in 1963. Fadil Paçrami succeeded him as the Minister of Education and Culture. On January 1, 1966, Kiço Ngjela was appointed as the new Minister of Foreign Trade.Clements' Encyclopedia of World Governments, Volumes 1-2, 1974 Simultaneously, Abdyl Këllezi had to relinquish his position as the First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers; he became the Chairman of the State Planning Commission and a member of the successor government in 1968. A major reshuffle took place on March 18, 1966: The remaining two First Deputy Chairmen of the Council of Ministers lost their positions: Beqir Balluku became the new Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Spiro Koleka replaced Koço Theodhosi as the Chairman of the State Planning Commission. Haki Toska became a new member of the government as the Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers. Koço Theodhosi, who had been appointed as the Minister of Industry earlier in the year, retained his position in the government. Therefore, the Deputy Chairmen of the Council of Ministers in the last four months of Cabinet Shehu III were Balluku, Toska, and Çarçani. At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Behar Shtylla was succeeded by Nesti Nase. In the Ministry of Education and Culture, Thoma Deliana replaced Fadil Paçrami, who had been appointed the previous year.
After the rupture with Moscow in 1961, the new Shehu government had to deal with a new reality: the massive support from the Soviet Union and other communist states had ceased, and Albania was politically isolated. +Cabinet Members Position Incumbent Start of Term End of TermChairman of the Council of MinistersMehmet Shehu July 14, 1962 July 14, 1966 First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers Beqir Balluku July 16, 1962 March 18, 1966 First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers Spiro Koleka July 16, 1962 March 18, 1966 First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers Abdyl Këllezi January 1, 1965 January 1, 1966 Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers Beqir Balluku March 18, 1966 July 14, 1966 Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers Haki Toska March 18, 1966 July 14, 1966 Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers Manush Myftiu July 16, 1962 January 1, 1965 Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers Adil Çarçani January 1, 1965 July 14, 1966 Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers Koço Theodhosi July 16, 1962 March 18, 1966 Minister of the Interior Kadri Hazbiu July 16, 1962 July 14, 1966 Chairman of the State Planning Commission Koço TheodhosiSpiro Koleka July 16, 1962March 18, 1966 March 18, 1966July 14, 1966 Minister of People's Defense Beqir Balluku July 16, 1962 July 14, 1966Minister of Foreign AffairsBehar ShtyllaNesti Nase July 16, 1962March 18, 1966 March 18, 1966July 14, 1966 Minister of Industry, Mining, and Geology Adil Çarçani July 16, 1962 January 1, 1965 Minister of Industry Koço Theodhosi January 1, 1965 July 14, 1966 Minister of Communications Milo Qirko July 16, 1962 July 14, 1966 Minister of Education and Culture Manush MyftiuFadil PaçramiThoma Deliana July 16, 1962January 1, 1965March 18, 1966 January 1, 1965March 18, 1966July 14, 1966Minister of FinanceAleks VerliJuly 16, 1962 July 14, 1966 Minister of Justice Bilbil Klosi July 16, 1962 July 14, 1966 Minister of Foreign Trade Kiço Ngjela January 1, 1966 July 14, 1966 Minister of Agriculture Pirro Dodbiba January 1, 1965 July 14, 1966
References
External links Cabinet Shehu III Politburo and Secretariat of the Central Committee of the PPSh 1948–1991 People's Assembly of the Socialist People's Republic of Albania Albania: Key Ministries