Alarm at Meidani’s office. The new prime minister: Gjinushi is blocking me TIRANA — The new government is in crisis. Apostoli? Meanwhile, Majko is at risk of ... after the clash ... he had with Gjinushi yesterday afternoon. Late in the day, Meidani held meetings, one with the PSD and another with the Prime Minister, in an effort to mediate and resolve the quarrel ... that began Sunday afternoon. The government. At 10:00 in the morning, Pandel Majko began negotiations with the coalition parties, initially receiving proposals from each political force in the “Alliance for the State,” assisted by Ilir Meta as the PS representative in these talks. But during the first half of the day, the leaders of the PSD, PAD, PBDNJ and PA showed no objections to the new head of government. During the second round of consultations, on Monday, however, cracks began to appear, unexpectedly, in Majko’s camp. Thus, visibly ... and far from satisfied, Vasil Melo, chairman of the PBDNJ, left the meeting. He said that Majko had rejected his request to have one of his own as a minister—Gjergj Leka in place of Angjela at the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. “They were everywhere; what did they do? Nothing, absolutely nothing,” Melo said, making it clear that many things were not going well within the coalition. Yesterday, the largest opposition party hardened its position after Meidani’s endorsement.

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A row erupts over the names of the new ministers. Majko refuses to accept some of the old guard from the Nano government. The allies remain dissatisfied Tension at the Presidency until after midnight. The PSD leader threatens to leave the coalition. “I won’t sell Gaqo.” Majko: “I won’t work with Apostoli.”

FATOS LUBONJA IF we are to believe certain historical anecdotes, the conclusion of somewhat turbulent politics is desirable for power. They say that turmoil shapes a government that does not conform. It puts the army to the test, dissolves the police, consolidates the bourgeoisie and brings the force of social cohesion to the fore. According to them, power feels better after turmoil, just as a person does after a good rubdown. Listening to these cynical lessons of Western history, Albanians would smile and say that nothing of ours fits this pattern: turmoil can be called a workout for the muscles of the state when the state has grown strong enough to endure it, whereas the post-communist Albanian state is still in its swaddling clothes, the bourgeoisie is still anonymous and society as a whole, still immature, has not yet developed. Therefore, for it, turmoil is like a first jolt to an infant who is still unsteady on its feet. The latest Albanian crisis once again highlights this infancy, perhaps more clearly than ever. A “little turmoil,” caused by a handful of armed people, was enough for the prime minister’s office, parliament and RTSH to fall into the hands of looters and arsonists. Nevertheless, today, two weeks after those events, it can be said that the turmoil did not manage to overthrow the government; but it must also be said that the government did not manage to suppress the turmoil. The uneasy balance between the state and the turmoil has, on one side, resulted in Prime Minister Nano’s resignation and the formation of a new government; on the other, Majko and Gjinushi have Kalashnikovs at their backs, and the turmoil is still there. What will happen tomorrow? Will the Majko government be able to do anything to eliminate these two evils—that is, to take a step toward strengthening the state’s authority? Albanians remain very skeptical about giving an optimistic answer. Majko has the advantage of one more opportunity that the Albanian political class has received this time, but he also faces the disadvantage of one more blow suffered by the people at the hands of this class, which many consider beyond remedy. The latest tragedy was another catastrophic opportunity for the Albanian political class, but the frivolity and pettiness with which it—and not only it—dealt with it show that this catastrophe, this purging of evil, is unlikely to happen this time either. In any case, hope is not only a need but also a duty for anyone who has decided to build a life in this country, so let us hope.

Berisha: We will continue the rallies until they are brought down TIRANA — The PD declares war on Prime Minister Majko as well. “He guarantees continuity of the Nano government because he is loyal to him,” said yesterday Vili Minarolli, Secretary for Public Relations at the PD. Meanwhile, a rally organized by the Union for Democracy was also held in the square, in “Skënderbej” Square. Berisha, Bode and other opposition leaders said they would continue peaceful protests until a final political solution was achieved: a caretaker government with political support from both the government and the opposition. Minarolli said that Majko was also responsible for some things that had gone wrong in the country, and that the truth about them would now not be brought to light. Berisha and his associates said that Fatos Nano had appointed him to this position.

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APPEAL BY THE KOSOVAR GOVERNMENT: INTERVENE URGENTLY PRISTINA — Alarm from Bukoshi’s government over Kosovo. “Nothing more can be expected; NATO must intervene now.” Yesterday, the statement was made amid the desperation of the government in exile, in an effort to raise international awareness once again, but at the same time also to draw the attention of Kosovo’s Albanian politicians, urgently, to “change the entire current mindset as soon as possible.” On page 8 One of the latest victims. (Photo: ANSA)