All PD candidates for the six communes in the district of Lezhë will take part in the runoff The former mayor of Lezhë, Njazi Reçi, who belongs to the Democratic Party (PD), welcomed the new Socialist mayor, Gjakë Jaku, to his office yesterday after his defeat, handed over the post and congratulated him on his victory on 1 October.

By FERDINAND XHAFERRI For several days now, journalists who write according to [Berisha’s] instructions, in connection with

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For several days now, journalists who write according to Berisha’s instructions, in connection with the 1 October elections, have been trying to attack both the US Ambassador and the International Community in general. who write according to Berisha’s instructions, in connection with the 1 October elections, have been trying to attack both the US Ambassador and the International Community in general. Any responsible political force, before claiming to level criticism, should analyze within its own ranks the cause of this crushing defeat. No one outside the PD is responsible for Berisha having fought desperately to secure a victory by the narrowest of margins in Shkodër, for losing in around 250 of the nearly 300 polling stations in Tirana, and for ending up as the third- or fourth-largest political force in Sarandë and elsewhere. If the language being used were simply an outlet for a small group of nostalgic Bolsheviks, for whom reminiscences of Hoxha’s anti-Western politics are inevitable, it would not be a particularly great concern. But in reality, this group claims to represent 32 percent of the right-wing electorate and, in all fairness, it must be stressed that this right-wing electorate not only has nothing in common with such mindsets, but also does not deserve to be considered genuinely represented by this group. There are several reasons for this. To imagine that 32 percent of the electorate belongs to Berisha is like drawing a parallel and thinking that if the Socialist Party were led by Hysni Milloshi, the PS’s share would be attributed to Hysni Milloshi of Milošević. Hysni Milloshi has his own percentage, and that is clear to everyone; everyone has observed it. The most comprehensive and indisputable argument about what this 32 percent represents begins to fade as soon as you leave Berisha’s office and go down to the most ordinary member of the leadership of the highest-level PD branch. (Continued on page 4) … our term(s), so I do not offer you legitimacy

The Albanian candidate Viktor Mato of the PS will defeat the “Greek” candidate of the PBDNJ, Vasil Bollano — pages 6–7 All the Albanian parties support the PS candidates for Himara

Vili Minarolli

Fotaq Nano