Three days remain to make concrete the first step toward true democracy. Everyone has now decided whom to give their vote to. A few undecided people remain, and it is worth talking with them fraternally. At all the meetings with the Labour Party candidates for deputy in the district’s five constituencies, voters have supported the Labour Party’s programme. To be even more precise: there have been objections, suggestions, even criticism. Then the opposition acts! So, three days left. Above all, let us go to the elections as people of Lezhë, as brothers. Once again: Votes for the Labour Party!

On Tuesday, the editorial board of the newspaper «Koha jonë» and the district Journalists’ Union met to discuss improving the newspaper’s content under conditions of political pluralism. The participants praised the good work of and discussed how this organ could develop in the future so that the district’s economic and cultural problems could be better reflected in which will be approved soon. The pluralist direction this newspaper might take in the future was also discussed. We invite the readers and contributors of the newspaper «Koha jonë» to express their views in its pages on the future of this organ, which is essential for our district. «Koha jonë» correspondent

Last Sunday, the PD Committee of the Lezhë district organized a rally in the city’s main square as part of its electoral campaign. To tell the truth, I went, not without a certain curiosity. Before the rally began, music flowed from the loudspeakers, and the square gradually began filling with people of different ages. Naturally, the slogans served their party. A lovely atmosphere had been created. Truly festive. From my heart, a wish welled up in me too: Let us go to the elections as brothers, regardless of who wins. Some young people were holding doves in their hands to release during the rally. In short, everything suggested an electorate—and, as a foretaste, a cultured rally. Naturally, without forgetting that we are in the opposition! So everyone was spared the worry that they might hear insults, abuse, irony, and so on. They expected one of the most cultured rallies that PD branches in other districts could ever have held. The reason? Writers, poets, journalists, economists, and others would speak—people who at least consider themselves cultured. I also had a curiosity: would my «teacher» of journalism, the poet Rudolf Marku, speak to the electorate? At university, where I was studying physics, he had helped me wholeheartedly to make my way into the central newspapers with an article or two. He had taught me the «alpha» of journalism: accuracy of fact and interpretation. But on Sunday at the rally, I was left in doubt: Is this the Rudolf Marku I knew personally, who wrote dozens of articles in «Zëri i popullit», «Zëri i rinisë», «Drita», and so on, or is he his own shadow? Is he the Rudolf who wrote about the «benefits» that socialism and the Labour Party had brought to Zadrimë and Breg i Matit, and that «the Kashnjet villager only experienced his renaissance during the Party period»...? I watched and listened carefully at the rally. Yes, it really was him! I heard him say: «... Enver Hoxha did all 99 bad things; Enver Hoxha was a dictator...», «The Labour Party cared about the pheasants and ducks of Ishull Lezhë, not the people of Lezhë...», and so on. He insulted, cursed, «cut» left and right as much as he could, and declared: «Can the Labour Party reform itself? No! It can do so only as much as a bunker can be turned into an apartment!» ... How can one answer that question? Which Rudolf was it—the one from 1979 and later, who wrote one report after another for «Zëri i popullit» about Enver Hoxha and the Party, or someone else, overcome by the fever of votes? Had he been a professional journalist at the time, one might think his workplace had forced him to write and that he had lied; but he was a teacher, and nobody forced him to lie. And good for him then! Now he is openly in opposition to the Labour Party. He has his own opinions, but at least he has a sense of balance, of human reason, and above all, of being a Lezhë democrat. So, he had already shown himself to be a journalist. But Rudolf had continually written «soft», non-offensive articles about his former bosses. Now, however, he «thunders» with his irony. Otherwise, he will answer with an article in «RD»—but at least let it be accurate, not like his article about Enver Hoxha at Qamil Dashi’s family, concerning the coffee business. Now, a piece of advice to my «teacher»: at least find material in articles about other districts, because the people of Lezhë know for themselves what happens in Lezhë. Does the Labour Party make mistakes? Of course! Should we leave it as it is, or transform it completely? That, too, is being answered day by day. Are there party and state officials who have «wrung out» their Party cards? Plenty. We should hit these people on the head, discredit them, and put other people in their place—honest and upright ones. When the rally «heated up» after Rudolf’s speech, the doctor Agron Belisha came forward; he had suffered political imprisonment. Everyone said to one another: «Just wait now—this one will curse even more. If the man who used to be friends with the “red officials” in Lezhë cursed, imagine what Agron will say!» But no. He showed himself to be cultured, naturally, as an opposition figure. It is with pain that I publicly address my «teacher» of journalism and denounce him, because he disappointed me with his old lessons, «to be as accurate as possible». Please tell me: Which Rudolf Marku should I trust, the one from the ’80s or this one from Sunday? NIKOLLË LESI Lezhë, 25 March 1991 Yes, it really was him! I heard him say: «... as a bunker can be turned into an apartment!» ... 25 March 1991

In three days, every citizen of Lezhë and Shëngjin will go to the ballot box to cast their vote. Naturally, everyone has already decided whom to vote for. But some conversations I have heard these days in various places have made an impression on me: — You know, I’m going to vote for Agron Dibra! — said the first. — So am I. And do you know why? First, because of the Labour Party and, naturally, because of Agron, — replied the second. — These days some citizens say: All right, Agron is a quick-witted, honest, correct and persistent young man, but as for the party... the party doesn’t convince me! Still, I’ve made up my mind. I’ll vote for Agron. Let the Labour Party win in the city thanks to Agron... — No, no, you’re wrong. It’s the Party that is reforming. That’s why I’m voting for it. And there are as many debates as you like. Someone may even change their vote in these three days, since they are still unconvinced, but the majority has voted already. The votes have been divided. In whose favour? Well, we don’t know that for sure. I only know that all of Lezhë respects Agron. Perhaps in Shëngjin some may give him a «no», but they should be convinced that he fought the state bureaucracy over several requests from Shëngjin’s residents. And if some of those requests have been fulfilled, that too is Agron Dibra’s merit, he who has written so much about the city of Shëngjin. Nevertheless, today they will have their say at the meeting with the candidate for deputy, that is, with Agron Dibra. Talking with him these days, he says modestly: «I respect Eshref Rama». I was surprised. Eshref is the FR candidate. How is it possible not to feel some jealousy over votes? And it is precisely in this simplicity of his that residents see a man who can accurately and fairly represent their demands and concerns in the People’s Assembly. And not merely represent them, but also resolve them. We all know that there are major problems, but citizens will give their votes to the person their hearts desire. I am casting my vote for Agron Dibra already! ZEF NDOJ Resident of the «Besëlidhja» neighbourhood

Fourth year of publication Weekly Thursday No. 36 (158) 28 March 1991 Price: 50 qindarka NATIONAL LIBRARY TIRANA