The 31-year-old Prime Minister’s great compromise Sources within the Presidency of the Socialist Party and the Prime Minister’s Office reveal the secret behind the formula for the new cabinet page 3

The step taken by the Democratic Party and its leader, Sali Berisha, to return to Parliament—a move that will be ratified by its senior bodies in a few days—was greeted enthusiastically by public opinion both at home and abroad. With this move by the country’s main opposition, political life in the country gains a degree of normality. On the other hand, the entry of DP deputies into the parliamentary chamber will, in a sense, help keep alive the cohesion among the country’s political forces that has formed over recent months in response to the Kosovo crisis. For these reasons, and because the parties in the governing coalition had repeatedly complained about the DP’s absence from Parliament, they should have welcomed such a development. But certain circles within the SP and its allies are showing signs that they are not interested in the opposition’s return to Parliament. Let us recall the arrest of the “six” from the DP, on the eve of a planned Nano-Berisha meeting. Even now, artificial obstacles may be raised, such as the one concerning the “failure to provide explanations about parliamentary activity,” which would penalize the opposition leader, Berisha. Yet insisting on enforcing an article of the Constitution with such wording, at a time when the Constitution is not being enforced on far more important matters, will blow everything apart. Even someone with only the most superficial knowledge of Albanian politics understands that penalizing Berisha would first prompt all the Democratic deputies to show solidarity with him, and they would return to the practice of boycotting. This would certainly bring back the climate of tension, but this time the ball of responsibility would remain in the Socialists’ court. In this way, the line of cooperation between government and opposition—one of the pillars on which Majko has based his success both in governing and in the battles within his party—would be definitively compromised. Indeed, this makes one suspect that the lack of tolerance in this case, when the state is “generous” toward the most ordinary criminals, is connected to specific aims. But the fact cannot be ruled out that there are quite a few elements within the governing camp who are interested in keeping the opposition out of Parliament. This is not only so they can be freer to pass laws and make decisions in defense of their interests, but also because they are accustomed to the one-colour Parliament of Enver’s time.

Rebels emerge. Godo: Interpellations should be different; after ministers’ accounts, Parliament should vote — page 4 RENdi The confession of a teenager. He killed my father to become like Chuck Norris in films about Vietnam — page 7 REFUGEES 200 villagers attack and loot aid for Kosovars at a camp in Shkodër — page 12 SOCIAL AFFAIRS The government approves the Greek loan. Here is who benefits among the homeless and the usurers’ victims — page 22

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Today at 11:00, at the Rogner Hotel, the chairman of the Journalists’ Association of Albania, Mr Ylli Rakipi, publisher of the newspaper “Albania,” will hold a press conference concerning the usurpation of his position by the editor-in-chief of the newspaper “55,” Fahri Balliu, during the days when Mr Rakipi was in China at the head of a delegation of journalists. All journalists are invited to attend. L.G.SH.