Page 3 Southern Committees: We will go to the elections with our candidates. Arben Malaj writes to Berisha: Complete the pyramid-scheme law so that we can come to the negotiations

The first meeting of ten parties with the prime minister, following the crisis over the electoral law, ended without a clash, but also without a handshake. Eight of the ten political forces at the roundtable listed their proposals for taking part in the elections in a statement, once again delivering their harshest criticism of the electoral law passed by parliament three days ago. The list must also include the new DP faction, the Movement for Democracy, which the DP did not allow to take part in the talks. The statement, signed by the opposition parties, was not signed by the DP, the democratists, or Laco’s party. These parties will present their objections to the prime minister today. The opposition parties put four proposals, each containing several points, on Fino’s table. The division of electoral districts, the proportional-majoritarian ratio, the Central Election Commission, SHIK, RTV, and campaign financing are the issues which, according to the parties signing the statement, make the difference between proper elections and rigged ones. Looking at the list, which includes demands the opposition has already raised in the talks, it is clear that over the past 72 hours the opposition has chosen its battle tactics. It seems the minority parties have now decided to use the language of force with the DP and Berisha. If this happens, it will be one of the rare occasions when the Albanian opposition confronts the president without backing down. On the other hand, the opposition seems to have understood that its relative weight has grown considerably, since the “anti-election” front includes eight political parties, from the right to the left of the political spectrum. Whereas on 26 May this front began on the left and stopped at the centre, it now includes the moderate and historical right. The electoral law has so far led to the fragmentation of the right, and parties such as Balli Kombëtar find themselves lined up against their former ally, the DP. Yesterday, the second phase began in Fino’s office of what will be a long war of nerves, continuing until election day. Although everything seems compromised by the fact that the DP passed the law and Berisha announced it together with the election date, the opposition has realized that if it holds firmly to its demands, it has every chance of changing the situation. Just two days ago, Bashkim Fino told KJ that he was not worried if the president decreed laws, since amendments could always be made. The big clash was avoided yesterday. Apparently, both sides are testing their strength and the ground on which they are operating. It seemed paradoxical, but the advantage may now have shifted to the opposition camp. A little resistance is all it takes. With a country devastated by anarchy and terror, its finances shattered and its national currency in free fall, international opinion against it and intense pressure from diplomatic circles, the DP no longer dares to repeat 26 May. Otherwise, its representatives would not have taken notes last night; they would have slammed their fists on the table. Nevertheless, anything could happen today. Berisha has proved more than once that he is a master of surprises. S.M

Shehu and Nano leaving yesterday’s meeting with the prime minister Photo: G. Shkullaku

The night before last, at around 00:30, a large number of Presidential Guard forces, led by their commander, Xhaxhit Xhaferi, “visited” the editorial office of the newspaper “Koha Jonë”. After encountering the many guards at the editorial office, they left to “visit” the home of the director of “Koha Jonë”, Nikollë Lesi. There, too, the commander of the Guard, Mr Xhaferi, came face to face with the armed guards of Army Chief of General Staff Adem Gopani, who happens to be the newspaper director’s neighbor. The director’s guards also reacted there, but the guardsmen immediately claimed that “we came because we heard gunshots(!)”, even though not a single shot had been fired by the guards of “Koha Jonë”. It seems that the Guard commander was reconnoitering where explosives could best be planted, as on 2 March, when the newspaper’s editorial office was burned and destroyed.