Last night, the Prime Minister called only the deputy ministers to a meeting, as the ministers have their minds set on finishing their last tasks page 6

Experience over these years has shown that the impact of developments within the main political forces, especially when they are in power, has always been present in the work of the government. But no one could have predicted the extent of this impact now, after the SP congress. Throughout this period since the end of the Socialists’ congress, a widespread paralysis of the state administration has unfortunately been observed. This troubling situation reflects the failure of the government’s top figures to engage in day-to-day work; rather than focusing on daily problems, they have concentrated all their attention on repairing the consequences of the SP congress, which resulted in Prime Minister Majko’s defeat. Before asking lower-ranking administrative employees to do their jobs, the latter should first call his own ministers to account. Specifically, in recent days, most of the activity of members of the “Majko” cabinet has been taken up with matters concerning the SP and its problems. Indeed, in recent days Majko’s ministers have stepped up their meetings, even holding “working” lunches or dinners with figures from the party, with their sole concern being the future of the cabinet they belong to. In other words, their own fate. It was no coincidence that yesterday the Secretary of the Council of Ministers was compelled to hold a meeting with the departments’ directors and personnel chiefs, whose sole topic was concern about the lack of discipline, the “slackening” of daily work, and the “abnormal approach to carrying out duties.” He blamed this on “the political developments of recent days.” But there is also another group of ministers who have begun openly to show their disloyalty to the defeated prime minister, coming close to a definitive break with him. Could this be why the prime minister was obliged yesterday to hold a meeting with the deputy ministers to prepare the 2000 budget? Perhaps this paralysis and concern, which have gripped almost the entire administration, can be explained by the fact that some are exploiting the situation to intensify speculation and the theft of national wealth—for example, the ministers of Public Works and Privatization, who are “giving away” assets worth far more at laughable prices. It is possible that all of this is connected to the idea that, after Majko’s defeat at the congress, he and his team are bound to leave.

At 10:00, the concluding meeting of the Third Congress will be held in the main hall of the Opera and Ballet Theatre. All media are invited to follow the proceedings. On Friday, 22 October 1999, at 10:00, the SP Congress will meet to consider the final stage of the congress, which will address: 1-Election of the SP’s chief financial officer. 2-Election of the Guarantees Commission. 3-Consideration of an article of the Statute, since 37 members of the KPD did not receive the votes required under the SP Statute—that is, they did not receive more than 50+1% of the votes cast by the delegates present. Asked by “KJ” about the Congress meeting, SP chairman Mr Nano replied briefly: “The Congress is above all of us, the leaders of the SP. Only the delegates have the right to amend or approve the articles of the party Statute. I cannot override their free vote.” Ylli Bufi yesterday after the privatization of the Durrës cold-storage facility Ylli Bufi yesterday after the privatization of the Durrës cold-storage facility. He sells off the state for pennies. Photo L. FILOPATI. Pages 12-13

No department is doing any work. Most of the ministers implicated in corruption cases are afraid to give up their posts