On the President’s birthday, the Socialists lay down their arms Yesterday the great rivals of the SP shook hands after a year page 5

In recent days, somewhat strangely, some media close to the DP and Berisha have published various articles and statements whose content was dominated by attacks and insinuations against some of the DP’s leading figures, some of whom are being considered optimal candidates to win a contest—or, rather, a fierce battle—with the current leader, Berisha. Indeed, such insinuations have not spared even the man even the man who played the leading role in saving Berisha, Genc Pollo, or Jozefina Topalli, against whom the attacks have not been made public. These are two of the most trusted figures among the DP electorate and have a reputation on the international stage; they represent the future of the centre-right. In Pollo’s case, matters went so far that on Radio “Kontakt” his father, the late and respected Professor Stefanaq Pollo, was attacked as a communist or a distorter of the country’s history, despite the fact that “the DP deputy chairman himself has never been a member of the PPSH or a spy like the fabricators of these attacks,” as one member of the DP leadership put it. At first glance, everything seems normal, as part of the stage in the party’s democratisation process that was promoted some time ago at several important events of the main opposition party. Thus, one gets the impression that even the criticism directed at the DP’s leading names is the product of a goodwill effort to correct its shortcomings and failings in due course, perhaps also to show that something has begun to change in the mentality of the Democrats’ structures. But what is wrong with all this, casting a large shadow of doubt, is that the current DP chairman, Berisha, is involved in such a campaign, directed against some of the party’s leading figures. First, the care taken not to implicate Berisha (who, of course, is not without flaws) in these attacks makes one think that this campaign was inspired and orchestrated by the DP chairman himself. It seems that, having been under outside pressure for a long time to relinquish the party chair, he is seeking to create the impression that the other politicians in the party he leads, including his closest associates, lack the qualities needed to lead the DP. This would therefore be Berisha’s best, perhaps even only, justification to his foreign friends for possibly remaining DP chairman. This is an aim that has been discussed, and most recently reflected in the omission from the Statute of a clause that would limit the chairman’s term. On the other hand, reliable sources in the DP say that Berisha, through his people in the districts, has suggested that “over there” it should be declared that the only person capable of leading the DP is the isolated Berisha. Nevertheless, the fight against potential rivals shows that Berisha does not feel secure, and that the 13 September Assembly will not be easy for Berisha and for the white… who vote for him.

Court Nano and Pollo refuse to testify about “14 September” page 7

Police Tirana police chiefs are changing. Here’s who is leaving page 8

Districts MAPE arrives in Vlora to fight crime page 12

Turkey Earthquake causes catastrophic destruction. Thousands dead and missing page 13