ALARM Balances are being distorted. Customers: We will withdraw our accounts Banks in disarray Payments at risk Page 5

EDITORIAL By Andrea NAKO What name can you give yesterday’s statement by the Socialists on the Central Election Commission? A “soft turnaround” toward accepting the opposition’s long-standing claims? “Belated honesty” in the face of a reality increasingly convincing that the electoral process was poorly managed? Yet another act of deference to foreign institutions? It may be any of these things, but what is plainly evident is the political awareness of today’s ruling party: those who speak up are the ones who can shake the government officials’ seats from under them. So why did the Socialists need these people? By now, in light of recent developments, everyone understands that the Socialists could win the October elections only with this commission and that manipulable electoral code. It matters little whether or not the members of the Central Election Commission knew about their “role.” Indeed, it may be true for ODIHR to “acknowledge” what it had known for a long time: the incompetence of the people chosen to administer one of the most delicate electoral processes in Albania. In truth, ODIHR and all the foreign observers who contested this process did nothing but repeat the opposition’s earlier statements. The credit for turning this reality into an issue that also threatened the June general elections belongs to the latter. As if there had not been a political struggle more convincing for a poorly managed electoral process? Yet another act of servility toward foreign institutions? It could be any of these reasons, today’s ruling majority that, had we gone into the local elections with a completely incapable and manipulable electoral commission, the Socialists could have won the elections. Little matters knew about their “role.” Indeed, the hypothesis may be true that they were deliberately chosen to be just that way, so that they would serve the Socialists in power, even unwittingly. The Socialists needed the report of [text incomplete/unclear]. Rather than simply repeating the opposition’s earlier statements, credit belongs to the latter for transforming this reality, which also threatened the June general elections. Had it not been for the opposition’s political struggle, we would not have had a reaction from foreign institutions, and without that reaction, the Socialists could have won ten elections in a row with this CEC.

An hour in the house where the tragedy happened How one of the family’s sons was burned alive four years ago Special report, pages 12–13 An hour in the house where the tragedy happened The story of the Roma couple, killed with 70 bullets How one of the family’s sons was burned alive four years ago Special report, pages 12–13 The massacred couple, Haxhia, with 3 of their 13 children

Police accuse him of kidnapping a girl Nehat Kulla’s son arrested His father is being held in prison for unlawful possession of a firearm Nehat Kulla’s son arrested. Robert Kulla, 19, was arrested yesterday, according to police, together with a friend, after they had kidnapped and raped a woman three days earlier. She lived in their neighborhood. Police sources said the incident happened three days ago, when the girl was just coming home from school. The two friends reportedly stopped her and forcibly put her in a car, then took her to a house, where she is suspected to have been sexually assaulted.

Socialists acknowledge election manipulation SP: The CEC must resign! Rama: We agree to reconstitute the commission The Socialist Party publicly calls on the seven members of the Central Election Commission to resign from their posts, so that the party can reconsider this commission once again. This is what the PS leadership decided yesterday. Page 3

Hidden energy scandals revealed USAID withdraws its projects for Albania The government goes to Brussels with just one action plan Page 7

The government provides funds, Rama gets money without cost estimates 100 million for the heads of the Municipality The government spares no expense for Edi Rama’s costly demands! Even when those demands are not justified, as is normally expected when large sums of money from the state coffers are involved. Without any cost estimate submitted for the Christmas and New Year’s festivities project, the Council of Ministers has signed off without hesitation on a hefty fund of more than 100 million old lek. Page 4

The massacred couple, Haxhia, with 3 of their 13 children

Insurance Albanians, these future old people without pensions Page 11

The state mocks people Government: Taxes on gas will be abolished in April