By 31 March, in all electoral districts of our district, the process of counting votes for people’s deputies began. In district 29, where 4 candidacies for people’s deputy and 6 candidacies for first candidates were presented, the central election commission announced that the voting result, on 7 April 1991, was as follows: 1. Republican Party with 81% 2. Democratic Party with 8.7% 3. Agron Biskova, 7.1% 4. PDSH, 2.5%. In district 181, 5 candidacies were presented, but for technical reasons voting was repeated on 31 March. Result: 1. Gjylj Balhimi and PDSH, 54.4% 2. Labour Party, 30.1% 3. P[?], 8.1% 4. Agron Biskova, 5.7% 5. PDSH, 2.7%. In district 129, 5 candidacies were presented, but because of a quorum discrepancy a repeat vote was requested. Democratic, with 69.3% of the votes. In district 155, 5 candidates were presented. At the end of the voting, the Democratic Party candidate won the first mandate. In district 131, where Agron Biskova will run again for deputy, the next second-round elections will be held on Sunday, 7 April.

In district 129, where Bashkova will also run again for deputy And in district 131, where Besa Myftari of the PDS and Nikollë Gjoni, the Labour Party candidate, will run again. The next second-round elections will be held on Sunday, 7 April

SHOULD THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC HAVE THE LAST WORD? 31 March has passed. Now only political tension and the longing for change remain. It seems that no one can avoid the question: what did the elections bring and what awaits the country? If not, what can be done so that this dissatisfaction does not turn into revolt? Should the president have the last word? Should we have a broad government or a technical government? These are some of the questions being asked insistently in political opinion. On 31 March the people voted. It did not give anyone the full mandate to govern. This is a fundamental fact of democratization. No political force won the moral right to rule alone. This requires wisdom, compromise, and responsibility. On 31 March the winners do not have the right to behave as the sole masters of the political scene. The losers also must not fall into despair. Parties must learn the culture of political coexistence and respect for the opponent. Without this Albania does not come out of the crisis. We are for pluralist democracy, for the institutions of law, for free speech, and for a state that respects the citizen. But democracy is not only vote counting. It is also a political climate, tolerance, and the ability to accept that the other has the right to exist. Now calm is needed. Stirring up the crowds, street pressure, or the language of hatred would not serve anyone. One side’s victory must not turn into revenge, nor the other side’s defeat into denial of reality. If the president still has a constitutional and moral role, he should exercise it in favor of stability, dialogue, and a political solution. Albania has no time for adventures. What matters now is to build bridges and not ditches. The future government must have the society’s minimum trust and be able to face the major economic and social difficulties. Only then will 31 March have historical meaning.

As people were talking about work even before 31 March, idle discussions and empty words have stopped. Now we must think about the future. In some coastal villages there is a need for urgent intervention. The land must not be left fallow. Spring work cannot wait. People are expecting their bread and butter more than promises. Let the political parties deal with their agreements, but the peasant is waiting for seed, tools, fuel, the market, and security for production. If the economy does not move, it matters little who wins on paper. Therefore we must return to work, to the fields, to the factory, to the school, to construction. Albania will not rise again through endless rallies, but through sweat and wisdom. Let us lower the voice of insults and raise the voice of work. This is the best policy that can be made for the country at this moment.

WORKERS OF ALL COUNTRIES, UNITE! NATIONAL LIBRARY

Greetings from a high-school electoral campaign MIKOLLE LESI