The labyrinthine links between usury schemes and the state. Alimuçaj: Luniku blocked our capital. The new budget—10,000 unemployed. The President will not sign for the PD militants.

. Italian television channels have sounded the alarm. After Vlora, foreign soldiers of the “Alba” mission are also being provoked in Durrës. It seems that things have started for them. Although people welcomed them with flowers, there are others with interests in causing them trouble. The provocateurs, who are still anonymous, have not stated any clear purpose for their attacks. These people, whose origins and reasons for firing are still unknown, have not declared allegiance to any political group, terrorist organization, or gang of hooligans. The Ministry of the Interior has made no public statement on the matter either. The people who have targeted the soldiers of the mission have been ignored by the competent authorities, thereby encouraging them to carry out further acts. Although neither side has suffered so much as a scratch, it is thought that, as the elections draw closer, repeated incidents would come as no surprise. It is known that the soldiers are not the real target of these armed people. Since public opinion is more easily swayed through them, the weapons have been aimed at them. The approach of a fierce, perhaps dangerous, campaign has provoked acts of violence. Albanian politics is giving the brutality of the streets a run for its money. Democratic government MPs never miss an opportunity to use violence from their podiums. The electoral law has upset the political balance within the Government, while Mr. Fino is threatening to resign. It is thought that the country’s two largest parties have organized groups ready for paramilitary action. Right after an interpellation of the Minister of Defense, ammunition depots are exploding. As if the Ratalizatori were in Parliament. On Sunday, two LD MPs, Alfred Serreqi and Feim Godo, were mistreated in the street by an unidentified gang. The attack on them came right after an interview with Mr. Serreqi, in which he harshly criticized Mr. Berisha’s foreign policy. A bomb exploded at the home of Mr. Ali Mehilli, Prefect of Elbasan. A few days earlier, local parties had threatened to remove him as Prefect. Perhaps politicians have begun contemplating a campaign of tit for tat. The resentment reaches the point of absurdity. Three footballers from Vlora are beaten in the name of Mr. President. The latter has been reluctant to make a public statement to dispel the crude insinuations. The approach of the campaign has inflamed tempers. The power game has oiled the guns. It would not be surprising if, in this atmosphere, the peacekeepers’ escorts were called, depending on the occasion, southern rebels, SHIK Chechens, or God knows what else. Foreign soldiers were attacked by politicians with their weapons drawn.

Political crisis tomorrow

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Photo: A. Babami