(NO SPECULATION WITH THE DISTRIBUTION OF VOTES) As was expected, the law represents a compromise among the country’s main political forces regarding the electoral system. There have been two main tendencies in drafting this law: the first, to give the law more majoritarian elements and as few proportional elements as possible (PD, PS); and the other tendency (PR, PSD), in favor of a proportional system, with tolerance for a mixed system. Technically, the law has more majoritarian effects, given that of no fewer than 140 deputies, 100 will be elected under the majoritarian system with a runoff. Electoral entities will try to win as many deputies as possible from single-member constituencies, while also drawing as many votes as possible to their political entities’ multi-member lists. Nevertheless, the proportional element is also strong. Thus, Article 11, point a, of the law states that «the overall percentage of votes won in the first round of elections in single-member constituencies by each entity through its candidates nationwide is calculated.» ...putation in their social circles, distinguished figures in science and art, personalities on the Albanian political scene. So, we must work with the electorate so that it chooses its best representatives. Even if, in an electoral constituency, a preliminary poll suggests that a candidate from one entity may have a greater chance of winning, we call on PRSH supporters and members to vote for the Republican Party’s candidate, since his votes are not wasted but serve the Party that nominated him by increasing its electoral percentage. We must win the votes ourselves; nobody gives them to us—not any party, whoever it may be. Politically, since most deputies will be elected directly by the people, this makes it possible to have a more or less consolidated majority in parliament, as well as a strong and active opposition. Consequently, we will have a stable and steady executive, so necessary in this period of transition. The proportional element makes it possible for other parties ... that qualify to be represented in parliament on the basis of the percentages they receive to appear in the next parliament. Thus, Parliament takes on an even more pluralistic character. Given our circumstances of political and social imbalance, the need for a strong, capable government with political support, and the requirement that it also be pluralistic, the electoral law fulfills its purpose. Through its presence in Parliament, the Republican Party will be the best means of transforming democratic ideals into positive principles and successful achievements of any government. MARENGLEN GJONAJ, BESNIK BACKA In the PR Electoral Section candidates from single-member constituencies in order to draw, at the same time, as many votes as possible for the political entities’ multi-member list. Nevertheless, the proportional component is also powerful. Thus, according to the law, Article 11, point a, first round of the nationwide is calculated.” Likewise, under point b of this article, each entity receives a number of seats from the multi-member list on the basis of the percentage it has won. We should therefore focus on explaining the law, emphasizing that every vote cast for Republican Party candidates is not lost. Each Republican Party candidate may or may not win, but the votes cast for that candidate are not lost, because, owing to the calculation mechanism, they contribute to forming the party’s electoral percentage. The Republican Party has put forward as its candidates the most honest and capable people, who have made sacrifices and aspired throughout their lives to achieve true democracy. They are people with re-

On 9 March, PRSH chairman Mr. Sabri Godo held an extended meeting in the hall of the «A. Z. Çajupi» theater with many Republican members and supporters, who had gathered on the occasion of the opening of the electoral campaign in the district. Republican parliamentary candidates for the district, Messrs. Alfred Karamuça and Fatos Bitincki, also took part in the meeting. Also invited were Messrs. Grevor Narkuqit, president of the Association for Reforms and Taxes in the USA; Denis Stephens, legislative assistant and secretary to President Bush for the electoral campaign; and the Albanian-American Osman Osmani. After greetings by PR chairman in Korçë, Mr. Vangjush Dishnica, and parliamentary candidate ... ... Mr. Karamuça, amid great enthusiasm, Mr. Sabri Godo, chairman of PRSH, also took the floor. After speaking about the preparations PR was making to enter the elections with dignity, and about the propaganda by the Punisto-Socialists against PR and the other opposition parties, he answered the many questions from those present. Asked about the status of the coalition among the three opposition parties, Mr. Godo replied that, as everyone knows, it was PR that initially called for the creation of a full coalition of this kind, which would have meant a sweeping opposition victory in all 100 electoral constituencies and would have put PS out of the running. But we could not secure this. We Republicans then sought a coalition in 50% of the constituencies, which would have meant an opposition victory in two-thirds of the seats; but that too did not happen, and at present PR will field joint candidates in only a very limited number of constituencies. Nevertheless, I personally think that the alliance between our parties will take shape during the elections and become concrete immediately after them. This is a historical necessity that the three opposition parties cannot avoid. The American guests then also offered their greetings. In his speech, Mr. Narquist said, among other things, «I bring you the most sincere greetings from America, with faith in the victory of democracy and in the end of the communist era after 22 March.»

Along with the electoral campaign, the parties’ propaganda has also begun to intensify, and continues to do so, in order to persuade the electorate to vote for one party or another. But from the very beginning and throughout this propaganda, the Socialists have sought at all costs to convince the people that those who want to take power are not only the Socialists’ enemies, but the people’s enemies as well. They seek to foster this mindset by every propagandistic means and method. Their aim is to present an opposition victory as the establishment of a right-wing dictatorship—or, to put it plainly, a fascist one. They draw their arguments from history. But history is not always an argument for the present. For two reasons: first, because it is in the past; and second, because using it to serve the interests of the day entails a high degree of pragmatism. For example, fascism did indeed come to power Knowing well the psychology of the «new man», created over roughly five decades, and relying on the great inertia of tradition in our country, Socialist propaganda seeks this mindset by every propagandistic means and method. high degree of pragmatism. GAFUR MUKA, ZEF BROZI (Continued on page 3)

«How many honest people in this world have said: Nothing good can come from evil...» A turbulent year has passed, and on 22 March the Albanian people are expected to go out of turn to the ballot box. Had this order been respected, we would have gone to new elections after three years. And if that had really happened, then Nano-the-SOCIALIST, according to simple arithmetic, would have had the opportunity to form at least 20 governments. This act would have made it possible for the entire Albanian people to participate in governing, from local-level power all the way to the center. In short, no one in Albania would have been left without a taste of power. In any case, this claim is mere illusion, because on 22 March the people will go to the ballot box and... The truth must be told: these elections are PREJUDGED. The Socialist Party screams itself hoarse, saying that the world is prejudging them, especially its perennial enemies: America, England and... the West in general. In this case, the Social-Communists confuse prejudice with desire. Having a desire does not mean prejudging: can America, for instance, be blamed for not wanting to take part in building socialism in Albania, or can the British MP be blamed for not believing in the renewal of those who ruled this people for 50 years in a row? To make this concrete, let us consider a very recent case: twice in a few days, Fatos Nano calls on Peza for help. How eager Peza was to see Fatos Nano was shown by the visit of the chairman of the PD two days later. In any case, Mr. Nano, just like Enver once did, went to Peza to ask for its help. Something roughly similar also happened in v- ...the President, Ramiz Alia, by calling on them for help (as if Peza were a single family), ten to twelve communist residents of Peza. So, just like Enver with comrade Ramiz, Fatos also went to Peza... Not because he missed the people of Peza, but because at this decisive moment he needed Peza... Although both sides are supposed to be prejudging the elections, strangely enough it is the socialists who are prejudging them. Let us be more specific: In almost every statement and press conference, Fatos Nano prejudges the elections in favor of the opposition when he says that we will win, that we are the biggest and most powerful party. After this interesting assertion, the question rightly arises: Then why hold elections?!! And Mr. Fatos, being as transparent as he is, replies: “We are capable of forming several governments!...” So the PP(S) is capable only of forming governments... It leaves the rest in the hands of... THE OPPOSITION (!) The newspaper “Zëri i popullit” provides the clearest proof that the social-communists are prejudging the elections. By prejudging what will happen on March 22, it has gone entirely over to the opposition. Dozens of underground newspapers continue, day after day, to intensify a campaign of slander, abuse, and insults against those who... are coming to power. On the other hand, Mr. Nano himself, with his incessant travels around Europe in search of socialist allies, is prejudging the elections. The fact that the PP(S) is prejudging the elections shows that they have finally begun to understand something... They have begun to understand it in their own way, but that does not matter much to us. What matters is that they are beginning to understand that rule cannot last forever.

— WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ARBEN VOGLI’S BLOOD? — WILL THE ASSOCIATION OF POLITICAL PRISONERS GO UP IN FLAMES? — WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ARBEN VOGLI’S BLOOD? — WILL THE ASSOCIATION OF POLITICAL PRISONERS GO UP IN FLAMES? What year are we living in? Certainly not the twentieth century. Our actions are so primitive that it seems as though reason has never existed. We attack—but whom? Our own bread?! Do we know where we are venting our anger? The civilized world has made a very simple discovery: a ballot box into which a slip of paper is cast, one capable of changing the world. A democratic revolution. Why can’t we be patient? Does March 22 seem so far away to us? Are we inadvertently playing Ramiz Alia’s card, endlessly postponing the elections? Because if nothing restrains us, ordinary people will judge things this way: “Why doesn’t the army intervene?” But army intervention means a state of emergency; it means civil war. It means postponing March 22, as those in power would like, so they can steal more, deceive more, spew more hatred, and delay the victory of democracy. Lushnja, Pogradec, Berat, Kavaja, Rrogozhina, Durrës (and the list goes on), gripped by an apocalyptic epidemic: “What else can this be called but civil war?” In the middle of the square, 50 m from his home, an innocent man is killed, with a prescription for the children’s medicines in his pocket. Who killed Arben Voglin? Have we reached a dead end and are we all rushing about, playing out a farce? This is what the Reds called us, and still call us. This is where they wanted and want to lead us, into a shambles...

LET US DIVIDE

TAKE THE PACKAGES THAT THE PS IS DISTRIBUTING TO YOU, OR THE MONEY: THEY ARE THE FRUIT OF YOUR SWEAT. BUT DO NOT BE DECEIVED BY THEM INTO GIVING YOUR VOTE TO THE CANDIDATES OF A PARTY THAT NOT ONLY RUINED THE COUNTRY, BUT STOLE THE GOLD THAT THE PEOPLE HAD, THEIR BEST AND MOST PRECIOUS POSSESSION. DO NOT REGARD THEM AS AN ACT OF CHARITY, BECAUSE FOR YEARS ON END THE PPSH LEFT YOU WITHOUT EVEN A DROP OF BUTTERMILK. THE FUTURE OF ALBANIA IS IN YOUR HANDS! DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE OPPOSITION WILL BRING YOU BELJERAT! HISTORY CAN NEVER REPEAT ITSELF.