Turhan Përmeti

Turhan Pasha Përmeti (19 December 1846 – 18 February 1927) was an Albanian politician and statesman who served as the second prime minister of Albania, serving from March 1914 to September 1914 and from December 1918 to January 1920. He was also in service of the Ottoman state and held the title of Pasha of the Ottoman Empire.

Among the Ottoman posts he occupied were Governor of Crete 1895 and 1896, and ambassador in Saint Petersburg. He was a fluent Greek speaker and considered a capable though rather indecisive administrator. His governorship of Crete ended with the insurrection of May 24, 1896 that eventually led to the loss of the island by the Ottoman Empire. Përmeti represented the Ottoman Empire as its delegate at the Second Hague Peace Conference of 1907.

On 17 March 1914, he was appointed as Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs by Prince Wied, in the so-called Definitive Government. He became Albania's second prime minister succeeding Ismail Qemali. Përmeti remained foreign minister until May 28, 1914, then replaced by Prenk Bib Doda, who himself was succeeded by Mehmed Konica in July. Përmeti's contemporaries argued that, because he had lacked affiliation with the Albanian national cause, he was not familiar with the needs of Albanians. His premiership was interrupted by Albanian discontent twice. He was overthrown by Essad Toptani in 1914, and then by the Congress of Lushnjë in 1920.