Apartment buildings and additional floors constructed without plans, and the poor quality of construction firms, are putting residents’ lives at risk. Yesterday, residents were evacuated from building no. 13 on “Ali Visha” Street in Tirana. Fortunately, there has been no earthquake, since many buildings could be at risk of collapse because of their poor construction quality. page 17

In Albanian politics, the two alternatives, “worn in” as they exchange places according to the electoral cycle, seem to be gradually making room for a third option. The approaching electoral battle for Tirana Municipality appears to be taking shape as something new, bringing new names into politics. Although the two main parties have not officially announced their contenders for the post of mayor of the capital, the names declared by the individuals themselves so far are making their appearance with the weight of further political ambition. The chronology of electoral battles for this Municipality over the past 10 years leads one to believe that this is one of the points that not only hones the ambition for a high-quality face-off between political forces, but also brings the competitive profile of new politicians into view. One term ago, two candidates representing the two largest parties faced off for this post: Albert Brojka for the PD and Agim Fagu for the PS. Two names with a charisma that was both formidable and enviable, making them not only strong contenders but also hopeful prospects for each party headquarters. On the whole, electoral competition is moving towards a new pre-eminence. The Socialists themselves are facing a dilemma in selecting names, as the field of candidates has become more complicated; these include, for example, the current Minister of Culture Edi Rama and Tirana Prefect Taluant Dedja. But, on the grounds of an accepted vision, one shaped through candidacy, former Prime Minister Pandeli Majko is also being considered. On the opposition side, although his name has been mentioned around party headquarters, the member of the party’s Presidency, Bamir Topi, remains in the running. Although the hall also has some reservations about names for this battle until the final announcement. The Republicans have chosen the well-known lawyer Maksim Haxhinë as their candidate, while other names are being put forward by the smaller forces, with considerable investment in publicity for political life in the capital. This high-quality competition has not been definitively announced, since not all the names have been made public, but it gives reason to hope that Albanian politics has now created a new opportunity for spectacular competition. The names mentioned above are figures in current politics and newcomers, marking a new generation joining the political “line-up” of the day. Convinced of the authoritative potential of the mayor’s mandate, as well as of the specific weight of this party institution, these names make legible the possible scheme of the political game to come. In their overall picture, shaped by party affiliation, these names currently running in the “candidate race” are a chapter in the search for a third force in politics. Looking beyond this façade, we can believe that the sought-after third option will emerge naturally, bringing better figures to the scene and defining another political direction for the capital. One way or another, it will come to life—beginning with the Municipality of the capital. In this context, it can be said that, if not this time, then next time, the Municipality of the capital will give birth to the Third.

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DURRËS — Two police officers wounded, the assailant at large. This is the outcome of an incident that took place in the early hours of yesterday morning in the village of Gjeplaj in Shijak, in the district of Durrës. Two blue-uniformed officers from the Shijak Police Region were wounded by shots from a pistol, which the perpetrator was holding while grappling hand-to-hand with two other police officers. page 11