It seems we are heading toward the elections calmly, but also amid tensions: it is an election campaign. One unseen and unexperienced by generations of Albanians for nearly 50 years. If we accept this truth calmly, with confidence and objectively, we will surely also accept some excesses, despite our wish that there be not a single scratch, slogan, symbol, emblem, disturbance, or broken window. Day by day, the role and function of certain bodies of the state under the rule of law are becoming clear: the role and place of the army in this state, and the role of the forces responsible for maintaining public order. The party has the hardest task at this moment, which is no easy matter. Therefore, their judgment should be made as public as possible and stripped of ideological considerations, guided only by the law on maintaining public order and by the nature of the offense. Ilir Manxhar Këndro is also in the hands of the investigators; in the eyes of party opinion, he is classed among the “dark forces” because he removed the slogan above the Palace of Culture in Tirana that read “Glory to the PPSH.” But are those who stripped the square in front of the ministries, removing also the slogan “Glory to the illustrious work of Comrade Enver Hoxha” and others, not destructive forces? Why, when everything was removed, was one provocative slogan left there? One can only welcome Kiço Musaqi’s statement in “Luftëtari” of 25 February, in which he calls out: “Long live Albania! Long live Freedom! Long live the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Ramiz Alia!” These, and the Flag, are symbols of the Fatherland; they are the symbols of today’s national unity in the new conditions of Albanian society, which is moving toward new, free and democratic solutions. Order and the forces responsible for maintaining it must ensure this calm. They must justly punish those who call for a new uprising, since such a call is unconstitutional, instead of keeping our eyes fixed on the Republic and being ready to fight and give our lives for it. Today, the test of choosing symbols is the test of choosing between the Republic, the Fatherland and the people, and those whose lives were once tied to ideological, single-party symbols. This truth must be recognized JUSTLY, including by those in power. This is the moment; this is the road toward free and democratic elections. Although we have been placed in an unequal contest with the PPSH, a 50-year-old party with a colossal party and state apparatus reaching from the center to the country’s most remote village, we have decided not to remain silent, but to make our voice heard on 31 March, for the sake of the country’s need for pluralism and democratization. But we cannot in any way accept that these disparities be widened. Our people directly involved in the elections, even in large districts, still have no offices or means of transport; moreover, the party press does not support them properly. It does not distribute its papers on an equal footing with ZP; its circulation is 50% smaller and it comes out only twice a week. And we have not even mentioned the other advantages the PPSH has in terms of economic and propaganda resources, in the center and in the districts. Would it not be fair for the local newspapers to be— problem from that of the right- In this way- the sides of the adva- inte wh- (now) then now arrë gu- those men- sands for- responsib- ZREKU not a single scratch, not a single slogan, not a single symbol, not a damaged stan- d nor a broken pane of glass. Day by day, the role and function of certain organs of the rule-of-law state in this state, the role of the forces responsible for maintaining order. At this moment, the justice institutions—the prosecutor’s office, the court, the investigative service—are having a harder time. These institutions are now out of balance, owing both to pressure from outside them, from public opinion and the traditional hatred inherited from the one-party environment, and to the routine of their own employees. Today, these institutions are dealing with “destructive forces” that have not been identified. The justice institutions must identify them objectively, impartially support their supporters and stand by them. Thus, finding a candidate is now crucial in order to take part in the elections. Each political entity needs 250 people, and thousands to follow their fortunes at the polls. If a week ago someone approached you, nodded, made promises, now, beneath a sky full of threats, filled every night on television with considered and ill-considered statements, people are as if paralysed, and the election campaign is reaching a dead end. The country is left with only the worst possibility: postponing the elections, with all the consequences! The question arises: how can this situation be overcome? Under these circumstances, to be realistic, only one path remains for genuine democratisation: switching to a proportional voting system—that is, voting for the parties and their programmes instead of voting for each individual candidate—

The events of 20 February pushed the country’s political life onto a narrow path. Social tension has reached its peak. No one is thinking about the elections. Proposals, assessments and threats are coming from every direction, even calls to outlaw the democratic parties, and the figure of Enver Hoxha has been placed at the center of the debate. The PR has stated its position and insists that this problem be decided after the elections, by a national referendum. We must not forget that 31 March is just around the corner, that the country is being governed without a mandate, and that without these elections—which must be free, fair and credible—no one will sit down with us at the same table; and within the country, no one can halt the chaos and abandonment of work, which affect everything and grow more uncontrollable every day. In these circumstances, ordinary people feel worse than anyone: they have no economic means and can barely make it through a fortnight, with or without food. The same is true of the newly formed parties, which have not yet managed to build an organizational structure spanning the whole country, identify their supporters and support them. Although heard on 31 March, so that the first— [text unclear in source]. Under our conditions, only this system creates the possibility of equality among the parties and of ensuring pluralism, with its due value, by faithfully expressing the political leanings of the masses. Under the proportional system, every vote for each party is counted and assessed, and their total determines the number of deputies each electoral subject is entitled to in the People’s Assembly. By contrast, the majoritarian system creates inequality: even when the parties’ votes are 49% to 51%, the side that won 49% loses its seat in the People’s Assembly despite all the votes it received, even though the difference is only 2%. Perhaps the majoritarian system is suitable for another country with a stable democratic system, but for us, taking our first steps along this road, an opposition, however small, is essential: it will genuinely help the work proceed properly and lead our country out of the lethargy of one-party rule. This issue has not been raised in our press for the first time. The majoritarian system has been defended by the PPSH, which has used every legal and argumentative means, making it understood that “that is how the law is; we are sorry, but there is nothing we can do.” No! A noble and honest electoral struggle, without trickery against the people and respectful of everyone’s opinion, must take the circumstances and proposals into account—

The spokesperson’s office of Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (the Farnesina) announced that the Italian side is following with very great concern the development of various incidents of violence in Albania. In fact, they could endanger the recently begun process of democratization, so eagerly awaited by the Albanian people, and one to which Italy has been sure to provide every form of support. (Continued on page 4)

Exactly 30 years ago, I happened to spend my usual holiday at the officers’ holiday home on Durrës beach. Myslim Keta, commander of a military unit, was having a meal at that same home. I was fortunate enough to get to know this bravest of the brave over several days. Despite my efforts to “draw out” some of his exploits during the National Liberation War, I was unsuccessful. “Then,” I thought, “I’ll move on to a general subject.” And I asked him: “What is courage?” Myslim thought in silence for several minutes. He was thinking. Persistent as every journalist, I repeated the question. And he said: “Courage is not having a weapon and using it against someone who has none. That is cowardice. “A short pause. “Courage is not lying in ambush and killing someone who is walking along the road and does not know in what darkness you are hiding. That is treachery. “Another pause. “Nor is courage proved in a duel. Chance often plays a role there. “One more pause. “Above all, courage is keeping your composure in difficult moments. Find yourself in a tight spot? If you keep your composure and think how you will get out of the difficult situation, you are brave. If you lose your head, grab a weapon, start roaring, shouting, threatening and screaming, you are a coward, if not a madman. Today Albania is asking all of us to be brave. Vangjush Gambeta.

You took into your hands the direction of the country’s fate at the most critical moment, when not only the democratic gains of the past month have been called into question, but also everything good that has been built up to now. We are faced with the prospect of bloodshed. We are talking about blood accumulated through hardship and unprecedented deprivation, which today could wash the streets and squares over some absurdity, incompetence, provocation, or simply the unbalanced psychological state of one or several people. We, the workers, who may inevitably be the first victims of this bloodshed, ask with alarm: Why should we be killed? Why, precisely now, when a ray of light has entered our difficult lives, must we extinguish it altogether? On what rights and ideals is our end being demanded? What will our children say when they understand that we left them alone, blindly rushing after cults or political passions that, in a year or two, will be covered in dust, whether we like it or not? These and other questions torment us, clip our wings for work, and drive us toward absurd nervousness or fatal apathy. These days are filled with ideological and political bubbles which, when they burst, create the false impression of a cataclysm. Today everyone needs calm, in order to understand that, after all, these are only bubbles, and life can and will go on without them. It is your duty to bring about this calm, so that people may finally be able to think for themselves. This is the great service the people expect from you. Regardless of your wishes and intentions, you are and will remain relatively detached from reality; but the people below, who bear on their backs the successes and failures of governments, know things better and know the names of those who today are vaguely called “dark forces,” “destructive forces,” “vandal elements”—[text corrupted in source]—“proclaimed themselves defenders of the nation.” The people’s mind brings transparency even where complete darkness seems to prevail. Let its light guide you! Today we are tired of many things: food queues, cold and hunger, rallies and counter-rallies, cheers and whistles. But we are also tired of fine words about establishing the rule of law. It is you who have undertaken to draw, at last, a real, crystal-clear stream from this muddy river of words, so that everyone may taste it. We expect this from you without delay, because we do not want you to disappoint us as the faithless rulers, dishonest toward the people’s hardships and the country’s fate, have done until now. Anyone who agrees to take on heavy duties in difficult moments must act responsibly, not engage in political posturing. Therefore, as soon as possible, cast off and permanently discard your party-colored glasses, because at this time they will distort your view of reality, and you will see nothing but the continuation of the chain of mistakes and disasters afflicting our exhausted people. The people may be democratic or communist, republican or apolitical, impetuous or mild-mannered, but first and foremost they are the mass of people who absolutely do not want bloodshed, because they have no excess blood left to spill. Bow respectfully before this ancient divinity. (Continued on page 4) is represented by a candidate; otherwise, it is wasted or given to the PPSH or to one of the organisations representing it. It is you who, from this river of muddled words, have undertaken to bring forth at last a real, crystal-clear trickle for everyone to enjoy. not want you to disappoint us as the treacherous and dishonest rulers have done so far, indifferent to the people’s troubles and the country’s fate. Anyone who agrees to take on heavy responsibilities in difficult times must act responsibly and not engage in political manoeuvring. Therefore, as soon as possible, throw off and finally discard your party-coloured glasses, because they will take time to bring the grim reality into focus, and you will know nothing except how to add to the chain of mistakes and disasters suffered by our long-suffering apolitical, passionate or meek, but first and foremost they are a mass of people who under no circumstances want bloodshed, because they have no surplus blood left to spill. Bow respectfully before this ancient deity. HYSEN ÇOBANI

In several districts of the country, rallies continued on 23 February, with the participation of some local officials as well. At the rally organized in Lushnjë, the chants “Vlora, the capital” were also heard. Perhaps such chants should not be given importance, but neither can they be passed over in silence. Among the various groupings seeking such destabilization, irresponsible individuals are among the most extremist, and the people must immediately distinguish them from the rest. People who make such or similar calls are inciting civil war; they do not love the Fatherland, and want to take us back 70 years, to a time when we were Europe’s plaything. They see chaos and irresponsibility as a means of creating principalities under personal rule. The Republican Party believes that, at the present moment, rallies of every kind must come to an end, as must incitement through the press. Actions and discussions concerning the figure of Enver Hoxha must stop. The people’s general opinion on this issue should be expressed through a referendum, which could be held with the approval of the new People’s Assembly immediately after the elections. For the sake of saving the nation, neither side should insist on resolving this issue now. The Republican Party calls on everyone to show prudence, maintain order, and work. Any other stance harms the people and serves those who seek the country’s hopeless ruin. INITIATING COMMISSION OF THE PRSH