“I will continue the fight against various forms of trafficking and the fight against corruption in the public order ministry” Exclusive interview for “KJ” with the new Minister of Public Order, Ilir Gjioni page 2

The Socialists have made the final adjustments to the Meta government cabinet. But they have not touched the portfolios held by their familiar allies. The names of ministers from the small parties of the “Alliance for the State” were absent from the three ministerial changes decreed the day before. Apparently, the latest change of names in the government cabinet was not at all an issue for the main party in the governing majority to act on, regardless of its relationship with its allies. Avoiding this issue gives the impression that a reservation is being held back, which may perhaps find a place in the near-term context of political developments in the country. But at the same time, this week the Socialists announced their electoral political campaign for the general elections. We recall the meeting of the party presidium, which officially has the role of electoral headquarters, where the new electoral platform for this campaign and concrete organizational initiatives at every level of the party were outlined. According to the published decisions, this meeting marks the governing majority’s advance toward the general elections, making irrelevant whether or not their timing will observe the term limit. In their effect and significance, these political measures are, for the Socialists, the direct organizational action for an election campaign. In a way, they have made an accelerating move which, compared with the local elections, is clearly premature. Facing them, the opposition has held only the initial session of a consultative meeting at the multiparty table of this political spectrum, while its main party, the Democratic Party, continues to maintain its call for protests and gatherings that it prefers to describe as revolts. (Continued on page 8)

The winner will be known today. The road to the White House goes through Florida USA, Gore puts a damper on the Republicans’ celebration Pages 4–5

Minister of Public Order, Ilir Gjoni, during his free time Photo: P. ILO