Niko Peleshi

Niko Aleks Peleshi (born 11 November 1970) is an Albanian politician who is currently serving as the Minister of Defence  since the 31st of December in 2020. He previously has served as the Deputy Prime Minister of Albania in September 2013. He was Prefect of Korçë from 2004 to 2005 and Mayor of Korçë from 2007 to 2012. Since 2012 he has been a member of the Presidency of the Socialist Party. He's been an official deputy since 2019.

Biography
He is married to Amarda Peleshi and has three children.

He graduated with honours in Electronic Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Tirana and was awarded the title of Electronic Engineer. In 1989 he completed secondary education with honors in Korçë, at Raqi Qirinxhi High School.

Peleshi worked for several years in the private business sector in the city of Korçë and was head of the Korçë Chamber of Commerce and Industry from 2001 to 2004.

His political career started in October 2004 when he was appointed Prefect of Korça Region. He stayed in office for one year. In 2005 he was elected Chair of Korçë Socialist Party Branch. In the local elections of February 2007 he was elected Mayor of Korçë, to be reconfirmed in this office in the 2011 local elections. He is a member of the Socialist Party Chairmanship since 2012.

In 2013 he became a full of the Monitoring Committee of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe.

He is proficient in English and German.