The upper echelons of the Ministry of Public Order have been taken over by people from the PD. Luan Pobrati accuses Ministry officials of political corruption
Albert Dervishi, director of the Police of Public Order at the Ministry; Xhavit Shala, director of the Directorate of Crimes at the Ministry; Sokol Bizhga, deputy chief of the Tirana Police—all of them people from the time of Bashkim Gazidede and Agim Shehu. The police are in the hands of Berisha’s SHIK men
page 7
Berisha puts the Socialists to work
One of the few positive developments being observed in Albanian politics is the move away from slogans, labels and insults directed at opponents, and a greater focus on concrete aspects of everyday reality.
Thus, the charts and diagrams published by the PD in the electronic media, highlighting the negative trend in developments over the past three years, seem to have spurred the Socialists to give their electoral campaign a different face from the traditional one. It is said that the Socialists have prepared a relatively long-researched plan, taking into account all the elements that affect election results, beginning with the dissatisfaction of various social groups, the positive and negative effects produced by policies in different fields, and ending with promises for the future. Everything is said to have been studied in detail, with calculations made down to insignificant details. But the effect of a campaign based on such elements may be called into question because the Socialists are late in responding to the ground Berisha has gained in recent months. Indeed, it is the alarm caused by the opposition’s growing campaign that has compelled the Socialists to get seriously down to preparations so as not to lose the electoral battle in the local elections expected to take place in autumn. In any case, one reason for this qualitative step forward in the way of campaigning is that the Socialists have seen themselves as inferior to Berisha when it comes to confronting him with his preferred methods, which include rallies. This, in particular, may explain why they abandoned the idea floated some time ago of mobilizing the Socialist electorate for rallies “to show Berisha where he belongs.” But most importantly, the Socialists must be extremely accurate in delivering on their promises on time. This is because the interval between the autumn local elections and the parliamentary elections is relatively short. Thus, inaccurate calculations and poor handling of the figures—even in the event of a victory in the local elections—would tip everything in the opposition’s favor in next year’s parliamentary elections.
The PS’s secret plan to win the elections
Page 2
Berisha puts [cut off]
The Prosecutor’s Office
The Prosecutor’s Office
Aldo Bare’s escape, investigations into the jailers
page 13
