Berisha’s resignation after the parliamentary session. Dispute over the government—the smaller parties are pushing, the PS turns a deaf ear The foundations’ lawyers attack the prosecutor’s office. Where is the money? 500 managers maintained ties abroad

Will Albanians continue to leave their fate in the hands of the failed political class? Javier Ruperez, the third most important member of the European Troika, at the conclusion of his mission in Albania, gave a realistic description of the misery of the Albanian political class. In his exact words: “The Albanian people do not deserve their own political class.” In context, Ruperez’s message is clear: the Albanian people have suffered calamities, and the blows they have endured this year have come from their own failed political class. Before Ruperez, former Chancellor Vranicki had expressed his dismay while among Albanian politicians: “Here, it is impossible to tell who is an angel and who is a devil...” In light of these assessments by European politicians, the question can be put quite plainly: Should Albanians continue to leave their fate in the hands of a failed, fratricidal, divisive political class? In fact, it is up to the political class itself to decide to capitulate politically, step down, change professions, and leave politics to those who know how to do it. Resignation would be long overdue, but essential at this moment. The signals given by Tritan Shehu and Albert Brojka are very weak and far too few for the political self-destructors. The damage they have done to Albania and the Albanians cannot be undone by resigning, but remaining at the helm of politics would also bode ill for the future. It is the “achievement” of failed politicians that Albania has been destroyed and burned, the state dismantled, thefts committed with impunity, and numerous people maimed. Apparently, their deeds have no end. The politicians themselves feel guilty. Some of them evade responsibility, while the rest remain intoxicated by victory, perhaps because it may have come out of spite. The failure of politics is evident even now in the formation of alliances, where greed for positions is delaying the formation of the government. Under these circumstances, the country resembles a wrecked ship drifting on the open sea, where storms could at any moment smash it against some underwater rocky mass... From the President come contradictory reports about resignation and no resignation; the adventure with windmills reigns, the former prime minister expects to become deputy prime minister and not a state secretary, Albanians across the border are being wounded, while these people issue unsettling statements, while these people issue unsettling statements... All of this is the “achievement” of the Albanian political class.

Page 8

Page 2

Report from Tirana’s cemeteries Pages 12–13

Page 2

Page 11

“REPUBLIKA” newspaper, “Sami Frashëri” Street, near “Petro Nini Luarasi” High School, Tiranë. Account No. BTK 986/110 Tel/Fax 259 88 Tel. 230 90