The Legality Movement Party (, abbr. PLL) is a monarchist political party in Albania led by Shpëtim Axhami. It supports the restoration of the Albanian monarchy under the House of Zogu, with the house's current head Prince Leka crowned as king. The party has also been characterised as conservative and nationalist.
The PLL claims a direct continuity with the original Legality Movement active during World War II, as its founding members were former Legality Movement members or supporters. Exiled members of the Legality Movement held their first congress in exile in 1962, and the party was re-established in Albania in 1992 after the fall of communism in Albania.
History The PLL traces its roots back to the Legality Movement (1943–1944), a royalist political and paramilitary organisation active during World War II which sought to restore the House of Zogu to the Albanian throne. The 1924 in the PLL's logo is a reference to the 24 December 1924 counter-revolution of Zog I, which restored the king to his throne and deposed the government installed by the June Revolution earlier that year.
Former members of the Legality Movement held their first "congress in exile" from 24 to 25 November 1962, at the Sheraton-Atlantic Hotel in New York City, United States. They held nine more congresses in exile before the fall of communism in Albania and the legalisation of opposition parties in the country. Those former members and their supporters subsequently registered the Legality Movement Party as a political party on 20 February 1992.
The party contested its first parliamentary election in 1996, receiving 2.07 percent of the popular vote and no seats. In early elections held the following year, the party garnered 3.25 percent of the popular vote and won two seats.
In the 2001 parliamentary election, the PLL was part of the Union for Victory electoral coalition, which received 37% of the popular vote and won 46 seats.
The party returned to parliament with the election of one deputy in 2021. It joined the Alliance for a Great Albania electoral coalition in the lead up to the 2025 parliamentary election.
Ideology and program The PLL has been described as conservative, monarchist, and nationalist. A royalist party, the PLL advocates the establishment of a constitutional monarchy in Albania with Prince Leka (not to be confused with his father, Crown Prince Leka), the current head of the House of Zogu, crowned as King of the Albanians. However, the party's program states that this should be done only if a majority of Albanians vote for it in a referendum on the republic. Nonetheless, Cas Mudde, a Dutch political scientist specialising in political extremism and populism in Europe, describes the PLL as an "extreme-right monarchist party".
In its program, the party emphasises the rule of law, democratic institutions, and civil liberties, particularly freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom of assembly. It supports the rights of ethnic minorities in Albania "on equal and reciprocal terms", the autonomy of trade unions, and the integration of the Albanian diaspora into domestic politics and society. The PLL maintains a strong anti-communist stance and seeks the legal recognition and support of former political prisoners of the socialist era. The party also supports a secular state.
Leadership The PLL is chaired by Shpetim Axhami, a former city councillor and educator during the 1990s and 2000s. Leader of the Party LeaderTerm of office 1 Nuçi Kotta 24 November, 1962 20 July, 1965 2 Selim Damani 20 July, 1965 2 September, 1968 3 Fuad Myftija 2 September, 1968 30 May,1993 4 Guri Durollari 30 May, 1993 12 April, 1998 5 Ekrem Spahiu 12 April, 1998 24 November, 2013 6 Sulejman Gjana 24 November, 2013 25 November, 2017 7 Shpëtim Axhami 25 November, 2017 incumbent
Internal leadership Chairman - Shpetim Axhami General Secretary - Lurian Mena Deputy Chairman - Edmond Guri National Council Leader - Fatmir Haveriku Political Secretary - Nazif Sula Property and land Secretary - Ferit Nela Diaspora Secretary - Sulejman Gjana Urban Development Secretary - Arben Kollçaku Secretary of Electoral Human Resources - Afrim Kice Finance Secretary - Eda Shehu Justice Secretary - Hajredin Janina
International relations The PLL is a member of the International Monarchist Conference.
Election results + PLL parliamentary election results Election Votes % Seats +/– Outcome 1996 34,019 2.07 (#6) New 1997 42,567 3.25 (#3) 2 2001 Part of the UV coalition 3 2005 Did not participate 5 2009 10,711 0.71 (#) 2013 6,089 0.35 (#) 0 2017 Did not participate 0 2021 Part of PD-AN 2 2025 Part of ASHM 1
Members of Parliament Current Denisa Vata MP for Dibër, 2025–present
Former Guri Durollari MP for Korçë, 1997–2001 Behri Kollçaku MP for Berat, 2001–2005, later on April, 2021 – May, 2021 Sadedin Balla MP for Elbasan, 2001–2005 Athem (Et’hem) Fejzollari MP, 2001–2005 Sali Shehu MP for Tirana, 2001–2009 Ekrem Spahiu MP for Dibër, 2001–2013 Andia Ulliri MP for Durrës, 2021–2025 Petrit Doda MP for Tirana, 2021–2025
Councillors Plarent Anamali – Shkoder Bajo Bajro – Kukes Abdulla Jupa – Has Vjollca Perbati – Tropoje Klarisa Balliu – Peshkopi Elker Durici – Bulqize Emanuel Perjaku – Lezhe Ilir Myrta – Kurbin Nazif Sulaj – Kamez Sokol Gosa – Rrogozhine Erion Bano – Lushnje Sahit Ibrahimaj Divjake Perparim Benga – Mallakaster Edmond Guri – Gramsh Gazmira Frakulli – Cerrik Ismail Paja – Belsh Libeta Beshir – Belsh Armand Tatazi – Permet Oliver Mulla – Devoll Jolio Dine – Sarande Anjeza Dike – Sarande Enio Selmani – Konispol
See also Eqerem Spahia Skënder Zogu Albanian Democratic Monarchist Movement Party
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