The lack of a strong opposition ensures those in power an unchecked government The Alliance for the State hurled accusations of corruption without fearing the opposition page 3

By FERDINAND XHAFERRI, DP MP Some time ago, at one of his appearances before the media, Socialist leader Nano would display, not without irony, his pleasure—even happiness—at governing with people in their thirties. Had he stopped there, keeping within the bounds of that statement, anyone might have thought this choice had been made simply to put the aims of the Socialist Post-Congress into practice. To secure those monetary appetites that the executive makes possible, he would follow the option of including several ministers in the cabinet and controlling them by remote control. If that were all, it would not be much cause for concern, because, to be entirely realistic, a left-wing coalition government, so often talked about in connection with corruption, cannot be imagined without giving the lion’s share to the triumphant Nano. But Mr Nano’s stance—not merely approving, but also encouraging the practices that led to the dismissal of two ministers—points to something more. Considering that both dismissed ministers were among the best known in the West and had a positive reputation abroad, in contrast with the rest of the government, which was more or less anonymous, we can draw the following conclusions: The irony about governing with people in their thirties is not directed at young people, because Mr Nano knows very well that the young lads can barely understand his pronouncements when sober, let alone understand him when intoxicated by his ministerial gifts. In reality, Nano’s political actions are nothing more than an attempt to prepare the failure of the West’s well-intentioned initiative to support the new generation in Albania. If we bear in mind that the influential international community played some part in Nano’s removal from the head of the executive after the killing of leader Hajdari, the hatred of the former scholar and developer of Bolshevik theories for Albanians becomes understandable. Knowing full well that supporting the new generation has nothing to do simply with age, but rather with supporting ideas and political actions that converge with contemporary Western visions of his political son, Mr Nano has, not without purpose, put together a cabinet of young people with almost no governing experience. In this way, he is preparing their failure, so as to convey the message that investment in encouraging the new generation is a reality. At the same time, and in parallel, he intends to cultivate the idea that, for several more years, he himself will remain the left’s political player. (continued on page 5)

They threaten me over the phone Fage 2 The lower courts will now standardize sentencing practices for drug users 5 years in prison for 3 drug users Albania, the China of Europe for drugs. From now on, even the most ordinary user of the white poison, if caught by the police, will be sentenced to 5 years in prison. This is what the Court of Cassation decided yesterday, when it had to review a Court of Appeal ruling concerning three young men from the capital. The court panel took no account whatsoever of the fact that the teenagers had been caught by the police with only one portion of heroin each in their pockets. Nor did it give any weight to the fact that they were known regular heroin users. The court panel ruled that all three must remain behind bars for five years, and no one can now overturn the decision. But alongside yesterday’s ruling, the Court of Cassation also introduced the most surprising unification of the law. By standardizing all cases involving people caught with any quantity of drugs, the representatives of the Albanian Supreme Court have refused to yield. Photo: man talking on the phone. They threaten me over the phone. Fage 2