Delegates of the International Monetary Fund put Albanian ministers under scrutiny King: “We will also take an interest in the pyramid companies” Delegates of the International Monetary Fund put Albanian ministers under scrutiny IMF launches investigations into pyramid schemes King: “We will also take an interest in the pyramid companies” page 9

The lightning-fast change at the Court of First Instance in Tirana, in connection with Mr. Azem Hajdari’s lawsuit against Xheka, marked the beginning of the latter’s offensive to push the leader of the right-wing movement and current leader of BSPSH against the wall, following a meeting of the National Council of Independent Trade Unions. Xheka, aware of the services he has long rendered to the current government—above all by keeping the trade-union movement dormant, whose leadership was entrusted to him for no coincidence—is now seeking to get rid of Hajdari by calling on state institutions and those under state control for help. And in this respect, it can be said without any doubt that Mr. Xheka is not at all mistaken. At his meeting with President Berisha, he secured his open support, support that was also continued by the DP, whose leaders not only distanced themselves from its founder but also did not hesitate to rebuke him harshly. Now, seeing that the judiciary, too, is on his side, and seeking to be even stronger on 25 November, when he will face Hajdari before the court panel, Mr. Xheka has filed a lawsuit against his rival Hajdari, accusing him of public insult and defamation in various public-information media, and even calling for criminal proceedings against the man whom Mr. Xheka himself describes as being cloaked in a “veil of power,” despite the fact that at every turn he has been on Xheka’s side. Mr. Xheka’s move appears to have the sole aim of shifting his duel with Azem Hajdari onto terrain where he feels he enjoys support—precisely where state institutions operate. The until-now leader of BSPSH, accused by Mr. Hajdari of being a “Sigurimi spy,” a “son of the cells,” etc., could very well have called a meeting of the National Trade Union Council, which he has led since its founding. GAVROSH LEVONJA (Continued on page 5)

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This is a fitting moment to apologize to the great Kadare for the accusations made in several not thoroughly verified articles published in May of this year. It is only in relation to figures such as that of our genius Ismail Kadare that an apology happens to coincide with the editorial board’s congratulations on his acceptance as a member of the French Academy, which constitutes one of the highest honors for him and for the Albanian nation. The editorial board of “Koha Jonë”