“Alimuça is deceiving Albanians.” The company chief responds: “I want to meet with the prime minister” — Page 2 “Alimuça is deceiving Albanians.” The company chief responds: “I want to meet with the prime minister” Page 2

When, two days ago, PD leader Berisha declared that he was not calling for early elections, but that the “bloodiest clique ever to govern Albania” had to be overthrown, many were astonished by this nonsense. So the country’s former President, in his own way, makes two contradictory statements in a single sentence. The momentary confusion caused by the taste for Berisha’s “strong” statements passes when one realizes that the issue is not the overthrow of the government—in fact, the opposite seems to be the case—but the strengthening of the political position of the PD, and especially Berisha’s position at its head. That new elections are far beyond the horizon was declared immediately after Berisha, at the PD National Council meeting two days ago, by Arbnori: “The International Community cannot hold elections in Albania every three months”—something Berisha himself had also acknowledged at the press conference following the attack on Hajdari. This may have been influenced by the strong statement from the US Department of State and visits to the PD by several Western diplomats, including Ms. Lino. Thus, the current opposition’s stance against early elections has been imposed not only by the absence of a nationwide groundswell in their favor, but also by the International Community. But what is Berisha trying to achieve with the “non-stop” demonstrations, initially under the pretext of Arbnori’s hunger strike and now on the pretext of the serious crime committed by PS deputy Mazreku? “The events that triggered these protests happened a little while ago,” Arbnori declared. So these events are not their real cause. The former head of parliament said that the two events being exploited to organize protests cannot bring about early elections. Nevertheless, Berisha continues to insist, with all the energy he has, that the protests should go on. A call issued by the so-called “Pan-Albanian Anti-Communist Albanian Headquarters” says that “on October 1, the Great Dervish has announced the burial of communism.” Yesterday, Majko, the number two in the PS, attributed “the origin of these calls” to “former Albanian president Sali Berisha.” Perhaps it is a coincidence that, on the same day as the call, the VEFA company announced a freeze on the distribution of money, which is very likely not to go ahead because “the Nano Government may prevent it.” It is hard to believe Majko’s claim that “so-called ‘blue brigades’ are being created in Albania”—unless the PS leader knows the fate of these brigades, once called “red.” Things seem simpler than that. Berisha will continue holding street rallies, alongside the boycott of parliament. But this cannot go on forever. He knows this well, just as he knows the real weight he carries in Albanian politics today. This radicalism Berisha is demanding seems likely to continue until the end of next month. On October 20, the PD National Congress will elect its chairman. Seeking to cushion his party’s tragic defeat on June 29, he wants to regain his lost political capital. The commotion made after every misstep by the government is intended to save the party’s leader, Berisha, from the punishment recently invoked against him as the person responsible for the latest catastrophe. With his election as PD chairman, the beginning of the year in Albania ... With his election as PD chairman, the beginning of the year in Albania ... This circumstantial game will make it almost impossible to take such action against Berisha, since at least he will become a legend, like Nano. The leaders of today’s two political poles know well the consequences of these legal moves. Be that as it may, Albania and the world are holding their breath.

Pandeli Majko at yesterday’s conference of the governing coalition. Photo: GENT SHKULLAKU

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