A referendum on restoring the monarchy was held in Albania on 29 June 1997 alongside parliamentary elections.

[4] After a recount it was announced that the restoration was rejected by approximately two-thirds of those voting.

Police intervened, gunfire broke out, one person was killed, and Leka fled.

On 30 November 2011, the former crown prince died, his son (Leka II) succeeding him as pretender to the defunct throne.

That month, Prime Minister Sali Berisha questioned whether there was vote manipulation in the referendum, stating that "The referendum was held under the flares of a communist rebellion and cannot be considered a closed issue.