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EDITORIAL By Genci ÇOBANI The hope for a calm campaign, free of hatred and excesses, seems to be fading day by day among most Albanians. Leaving aside the by no means small contingent of die-hard militants devoted to their parties and to the heated language of political clashes, the rest of the population has begun to feel the exhausting pressure of a campaign much like those before it. Although it is only just beginning, it portends a politically heated September. As they have so often done lately, in almost every election campaign held during Albania’s 10 years of pluralism, politicians are making every effort—even beyond the limits of their practical capabilities—to put into people’s minds, instead of ideas, analysis of programmes and solutions advanced on the electoral battleground, the blazing intensity of political quarrels, using language that in most cases puts even the language of the street and its dregs to shame. Along with it, they also bring in the spirit of political extremism, confrontation, and hatred toward anyone who thinks differently and has the courage to say that they will vote differently. On the other hand, in a way that is not all that surprising, the new wave of recruitment has also swept up part of the Albanian media in the whirlpool of political headquarters and the closed-door commercial dealings imposed by them—as has often happened in Albanian campaigns—including even those media outlets that claim to embody the finest elements of the radical freedom of a free and independent press. Poverty on the one hand, and an inept central government, unable to organise a normal electoral process, on the other, are enough not only to kill Albanians’ hope, already mortally wounded, but also to push them toward ill-considered solutions, toward losing their cool, toward a “protest” vote and political chaos. And the dense fog that rises on such occasions benefits no one more than the voracious wolves of this country’s political forest.

Publication continues of the lists of people who have won the right to employment in Italy Page 16

Especially for “Republika” Page 7 Saimiri before and after his death

Fraud involving “Return to Identity” acknowledged The German company T.B.U, which is carrying out work in the three ministries under Rama’s “Return to Identity” project, has turned out not to specialise in restoration, but in roads and motorways. It was precisely the latter that the company offered as its calling card in Albania. Many of its applications were submitted to the Ministry of Transport in Tirana, until Edi Rama’s project appeared, for which the company lowered its price to beat its “other competitors”. The chief of staff at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, Blend Gonxhe, confirms to the newspaper “Republika” that T.B.U has an extensive track record in public construction and roads. Page 4

PR launches its election campaign in Elbasan With an American-style approach and a festive atmosphere, the Republicans launched their election campaign in the city last night at the “Skampa” Theatre and introduced their candidate for mayor, well-known local businessman Albert Shopi. As national and PR flags waved, Maksim Begeja took the floor in true republican style before the many citizens who had filled the hall. He called on the people of Elbasan to change the unacceptable reality with their votes. Page 2

The Ministry and UNDP order the poster to be removed Page 3

The promised increases are not being given to the Health Ministry Page 9

Agreement between the family and the prostitution kingpin Page 8

Elections/Candidates race to obtain documents The C.E.C. continues to gallop through the chaos created by numerous instructions and decisions that, at best, generalise one another, not to mention decisions that contradict the articles of the Constitution and the Electoral Code. But the Commission has not been content with the chaos in the premises of the Palace of Congresses; it has also delegated its status in every respect to all 385 CECs in the districts. Page 3

Books Page 6