The Democratic Party is in favor of the immediate privatization of trade and services, free construction, and the creation of PSESH, as the first step toward a market economy.

1. All categories of politically persecuted persons, and all innocent people condemned by the dictatorship up to the present day, must be rehabilitated. All confiscated or nationalized property must be returned to them. 2. No communist, in any form and in any way, should take part in the governance of Albania, because communist rule is in itself a crime. 3. The activity of the Party of Labour and its repressive organizations must be punished by law. 4. Full freedom must be given to all political parties and associations to present their programs without any restriction in the country’s press, radio, and television. 5. Political organizations should no longer exist in enterprises, cooperatives, and schools; only administrative bodies elected by free vote should operate there. 6. General direct elections by secret ballot must be held within six months from the entry into force of the new Constitution. The President of the Republic must be elected by universal and direct vote. 7. All voting in state and administrative bodies must be open, except in special cases. 8. The implementation of government decisions by local bodies must be ensured, and strict control must be exercised by central bodies, on the basis of the Constitution. 9. Constitutional, administrative, and civil courts independent of the executive power must be created. Court chairpersons must be elected by the respective bodies. 10. The responsibility of the order, prosecution, and investigation bodies toward the law must be increased. Their control by elected bodies must be established. 11. Strong municipalities must be created, with full powers for the administration of local affairs. 12. The rights of national minorities must be guaranteed and international human rights standards must be respected. 13. Restrictions on freedom of religion, conscience, and thought must be removed.

1. Land, shops, transport vehicles, confiscated houses, movable and immovable property must be privatized and restituted. 2. The state monopoly on foreign trade must be abolished. The creation of private enterprises and joint ventures with foreign capital must be allowed. 3. All obstacles to market supply and to private activity in production, trade, and services must be removed. 4. A modern banking system independent of politics must be created. 5. A fiscal policy that encourages production rather than speculation must be implemented. 6. Private property must be protected by law. 7. Free initiative and fair competition must be encouraged. 8. Senseless subsidies must be removed and state enterprises reorganized on economic bases. 9. The development of agriculture and the food industry must be promoted. 10. Conditions must be created for foreign investment and economic cooperation with Western countries. 11. The Albanian economy must be oriented toward the market and European integration.

POLICY FOR RURAL EMPLOYMENT The Democratic Party believes that peasants must be separated from agricultural cooperatives and agricultural enterprises; the land should be returned to former owners or divided among landless villagers, according to fair criteria. The state must help with credit, seed, tools, and a market for products. Favorable prices for agricultural products, irrigation of the land, and mechanization of farm work must be ensured. Opportunities must be created for the development of livestock raising, fruit growing, and vegetable growing. Living conditions in the countryside must be improved, with schools, clinics, roads, and services. Discrimination between town and countryside must be eliminated.

No. 9 - 16 Saturday, 2 February 1991 Year of publication price 1 lek Published every Wednesday & Saturday

ELECTORAL PLATFORM OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY

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