Local elections: the test of May 26 “There is no reason to postpone them, since local government is alarming” “The Republican Party considers the local elections extremely important.” Yesterday, the Republican leader spoke to the press specifically about the state of the right-wing party on the eve of the election campaign. Godo gave several reasons for the importance these elections hold for the PR and for the country as a whole. “First,” the leader explained, “the USA and Europe consider these elections a test for democracy in Albania, so their importance perhaps now surpasses even the general elections. After May 26, its irregularities and the controversy surrounding it, the local elections will be decisive in restoring the people’s faith in democracy. Another reason is the role local government itself plays in organizing a country.” As for the Republican Party, in addition to these points, Godo mentioned two other aspects. “The administrative nature of local government, which directly concerns people’s problems,” said the PR chairman, “determines the importance of these elections. The PR’s worthy performance, both quantitatively, by winning as many seats as possible in local bodies, and qualitatively, would have a clear impact on increasing its credibility among the people. On the other hand, under special circumstances such as the connection with general elections in Albanian politics, these elections will once again confirm the real strength of our compatriots, especially in Italy and Greece, where the media publish terrible stories involving Albanians every day. Just two days ago, the Italian press published a dossier about what was called the ‘Albanian octopus.’ So now Albanians have created their own mafia in Italy. A. S. Continued on p. 2 Photo: Zh. Terpini PR headquarters Photo: ZH. Terpini

The right-wingers offer the Government suggestions on emigration and organized crime “Nationwide checks for illegal possession of firearms and tougher laws” Godo reiterated his demands to the Government concerning emigration and organized crime. He reiterated his demands to the Government, Godo said, concerning emigration and organized crime. At a meeting with journalists, the Republican chairman launched sharp criticism of the Government, which includes his own party, over the incidents in Durrës, or the “public massacre,” as he called it. “Urgent measures must be taken immediately,” Godo reiterated his statement from the day before yesterday, “because these cannot be actions by individuals, but organized acts intended to destabilize the situation in Albania. Be careful! This could also affect foreign investors: who would be crazy enough to invest in a country where criminals, in broad daylight, in the middle of the city and without masks, after firing a volley at their target, fire another volley just for the sake of it!” Godo said that if the parliamentary committees on public order and the SHIK are not organized in time, the Republicans will do it themselves. The PR’s number one also ... put forward several proposals. The police should not allow known hooligans to move about freely, showing off their weapons as well. The courts and the prosecutor’s office must take sentencing more seriously, to put an end to the ping-pong with the police; the laws against criminals should also be tightened so that acts such as the “public massacres” do not occur. Yesterday Godo also repeated his criticisms of the Government regarding emigration and once again confirmed that, as chairman of the commi- The state has responsibility for all its citizens, wherever they may be. In October we will open a wide-ranging discussion involving all levels of the state: the President of the Republic, the Government, local government, and our embassies in various countries.” As Godo explains, what prompted the PR to take this initiative is the miserable situation of our emigrants, Italian press pub- day, since to destabilize the situation in Albania. The situation is very worrying, almost unbearable. Now, if you walk down the street, you are unsafe, because you could get shot, like those innocent people in Durrës. But if the Republicans are not organized in time, then we will do it ourselves, the Republicans on our side. In any case, the PR’s number one also puts forward several proposals. “A strict nationwide check on the possession of firearms must be carried out,” Godo proposes, “because carrying weapons is now becoming commonplace; people even show them off to boast. to determine the basic dia- ment, if they are not organized in time, then we Republicans will do it ourselves. boast. for the October 20 elections. boast. with the Mr. Sabri Godo, once again emphasized

The final days of the pre-election campaign Optimism based on the reality of things From the meeting of the chairmen of the Republican Party branches Yesterday, an expanded meeting of the chairmen of the Republican Party branches with the party leadership was held at the Republican Party’s Central Headquarters in Tirana. In addition to most of the chairmen or secretaries of PR branches throughout the country, the heads of departments at the Central Headquarters also attended the meeting. The meeting focused on the state of the party’s electoral structures and their current level of preparedness to cope with the intensity of the forthcoming election campaign for the October 20 elections. The range of issues addressed mainly by the branch representatives was broad and multifaceted, and what stood out was their concern with entering the matter anew and examining it down to the details. Besides the general aspect—which, especially in local elections, is particularly important and almost decisive for the outcome of the elections—the issues of campaigning, organization, technical matters, and so on were also discussed at length. The specifics of electoral tactics were the subject of open and constructive debate to determine the basic dialogue between the branches and the leadership. In this context, adhering to the principle of Republican self-assessment, the branches’ full authority to select candidates at all levels was reaffirmed, as was the effective coordination of campaigning according to the specific conditions of the areas in which the electoral structures operate, as well as the delicate issue of cooperation with other political forces of the Right. At the end of the meeting, in his speech, the chairman of the PRSH, Mr. Sabri Godo, once again emphasized Continued on p. 2

National Football Championship Albetrol-Olimpik 1-3 Skënderbeu-Teuta 2-1 Shqiponja-Besa 0-0 Shkumbini-Sopoti 3-0 Tirana-Elbasani 4-0 Lushnja-Apolonia 2-2 Vllaznia-Laci 1-0 Tomori-Partizani 2-1 Flamurtari-Bylis 2-1

p. 3