Socialists ousted from government, PAD refuses to leave The President’s decree on Prime Minister Meta’s dismissals revives fierce disputes among parliamentary groups page 2

GAVROSH LEVONJA The upcoming local elections, scheduled to take place in the coming months, have set all of Albanian politics in motion. This is because local elections, given the moment at which they are being held, are extremely important. Leaving aside who will dominate local government, the outcome of these local elections will have a decisive impact on the parliamentary elections, at least psychologically. Thus, the opposition, albeit somewhat belatedly, has realized that it is disadvantaged by the electoral law and by the commission appointed by President Meidani. It has therefore raised its voice in unison, demanding that the desired changes be made. Meanwhile, Democratic leader Berisha, making use of anniversaries marking the founding of branches of his party, has begun an intensive campaign both to raise awareness and to gauge his electorate’s mood. The “reformers” are also on the move, holding parallel activities, naturally not on the same scale as Berisha’s. In the other camp, election fever is reflected both in relations among allies over issues—especially how to compete—and within the parties themselves. But, of course, the government is on the front line, and the election outcome depends entirely on its success. Meta’s “anti-corruption” measures, the start of distributing money from some of the financial pyramid schemes, and promises such as 200,000 jobs are all connected to this. Amid all this election anxiety, the only one who seems calm is Socialist Party leader Fatos Nano. This is because of the comfortable position he occupies. In fact, whatever the outcome, Nano comes out a winner in either case. There is no doubt that Nano himself knows he will win either way: a Socialist victory in these elections will be presented as proof of the party’s effective leadership by its leader and, above all, as the fruit of the changes he initiated. On the other hand, if the balance of power shifts in favor of the opposition, the government will be the “scapegoat.” Prime Minister Meta will then be in a weaker position vis-à-vis Nano and, at the very least, will be forced to show considerably greater obedience to the party chairman. Moreover, by holding the party’s local leaders responsible, Nano will clear the way to make the desired changes at its grassroots level as well. In addition to all this, Berisha’s current campaign, logically directed mainly against the government and other state institutions, is in a way also serving Nano.

page 27 Yllka Mujo and Ndriçim Xhepa during rehearsals for the comedy that will be performed today

The Prosecutor’s Office publishes the lists and blames the police All those who have been convicted in absentia, all those who have been caught committing crimes and then released again, and all those who have committed crimes and have not been caught add up to 1,500 people at large, who threaten innocent lives every day. This report comes from the General Prosecutor’s Office itself, which has blamed the police for this situation and has also given the Police lists of the most-wanted individuals, so they can be arrested at any time. Most of them are believed to be in Tirana, the place where they are hardest for the police to catch, but also the place most exposed to crime. page 9