The draft posted online yesterday is different from the one delivered to the media two days earlier “The prime minister took part in official inaugurations, infrastructure projects and school buildings” is missing in yesterday’s version. A few days earlier, an observer spoke of pressure on the mission regarding the reports “The prime minister took part in official inaugurations, infrastructure projects and new school buildings” is missing in yesterday’s version. A few days earlier, an observer spoke of pressure on the mission regarding the reports By DARINA TANUSHI The prime minister carried out a number of official inaugurations, including infrastructure projects and new school buildings...” This sentence appears in the first OSCE/ODIHR report, which was distributed to the media on 15 April, three days ago. The version you are seeing... Continues on pages 2-3 OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Election Observation Mission Local Government Elections 2011 Republic of Albania PRELIMINARY REPORT No. 1 27 March – 11 April 2011 15 April I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY • On 6 September 2010, the President of Albania stated that elections would be held on 8 May 2011 for mayors, commune chairpersons, and the councils of 384 local government units. • These are the first local elections to be held since the constitutional changes made in 2008, followed by the adoption of the new Electoral Code. The Electoral Code has a number of shortcomings ... [?] IX. THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN While the official 30-day campaign period started on 8 April, parties had long since begun actively promoting themselves before that date. Party leaders organized rallies with voters and promised local candidates. The Prime Minister carried out a number of official inaugurations, including infrastructure projects and new school buildings. An OFSE television search revealed, before the official campaign period, an attack on the PS birth registration, which is the incumbent candidate for Mayor of Tirana. The PS has requested an investigation claiming the spot was financed with public funds. The Prime Minister carried out a number of official inaugurations, including infrastructure projects and new school buildings. OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Election Observation Mission Local Government Elections 2011 Republic of Albania PRELIMINARY REPORT No. 1 27 March – 11 April 2011 15 April I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY • On 6 September 2010, the President of Albania stated that elections would be held on 8 May 2011 for mayors, commune chairpersons, and the councils of 384 local government units. • These are the first local elections to be held since the registration of candidates at CEAZ level was not available at CEC level at the time this report was written. IX. THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN While the official 30-day campaign period started on 8 April, parties had long since begun actively promoting themselves before that date. Party leaders organized rallies with voters and promised local candidates. An OFSE television search revealed, before the official campaign period, the attack on the work of the PS leader, who is the incumbent candidate for Mayor of Tirana. The PS has requested an investigation claiming that the spot was financed with public funds. Since 8 April, the intensity of campaign activities has increased. Campaign themes include infrastructure development, the key services provided by the municipality, and population choices. Fierce personal attacks have continued to characterize the campaign, with accusations of corruption from both sides. Both parties, PD and PS, have devoted great attention to the race for Mayor of Tirana. (In photo) Facsimile of the 15 April report in Albanian stating Berisha’s activity (right) Facsimile of the 16 April report in Albanian where the Berisha section has been removed

Opinion of the Day By AFRIM KRASNIQI* The 2011 local election campaign will certainly be remembered as the first campaign of the technological “war,” the mass use of the internet... Continues on page 21 The misunderstood virtual campaign

The book “The Weight of Power” features former presidents and former prime ministers speaking about the relationship Moisiu: I don’t know what Topi will do after the Presidency. Nano: Moisiu lies in his memoirs The book “The Weight of Power” features former presidents and former prime ministers speaking about the relationship Fino: I was inferior to President Berisha Moisiu: I don’t know what Topi will do after the Presidency. Nano: Moisiu lies in his memoirs Milena Harito’s “The Weight of Power” - conversations with the heads of the Albanian state. This is the newest book on the market, which specifically addresses the institutional relationship between the Presidents of the Republic and the Prime Ministers. After the severe crisis of 1997, the Albanian constitution suffered under the new consensus among political forces, in which the president truly has less power but has the ability to better balance the weight of the prime minister, who is now the most powerful figure in the country. To better understand the relationship between them, we bring excerpts from journalist Milena Harito’s book. In the years 1992-1997 President Berisha was also chairman of the Democratic Party... On pages 16-17

#MILOSAO#/ And Tuan with family in New York Supplement

Met with the mission after 21 January On page 5

Yesterday in the “Washington Post” By DAVID IGNATIUS Economists theorize about an optimal position on the “well-being curve” - a balance that, if disrupted, will make things worse. President Obama... Continues on page 20 The new team of Barack Obama

The law is postponed twice On page 8

50 families left out On page 6

Reported by XHAVIT KASEMI On page 15

The ‘Gërdeci’ case On page 7