ZEF LLESHI The reintroduction into play of the “Marx card” by the extremist leaders of the PS fully confirmed the early assessment by democrats and analysts at home and abroad that the PS leadership is degenerate and uninterested in renewing the PS. While right-wing members and sympathizers of the PS were expecting the PS program to reflect the ideals of true democratic socialism, the doctrine of Marx was unexpectedly served up once again as a guide (?). This fact alone is enough to show that the strategy of the PS’s extremist leaders is a return to the beginning, which means a return to Enverism. The generation of Albanians who had the tragic fate of living under the communist dictatorship knows the doctrine of Marx well. It was imposed on them as a curriculum in schools and put into practice in every cell of Albanian life. By serving their electorate Marx’s failed doctrine, advertised as the “genius of the proletarian revolution,” the PS leaders think they will draw the underprivileged classes around them. But these classes have by now understood how many “privileges” Marx gave them over 50 years. This theory takes you to the place where the tragic fate of the Albanians ended: the destruction of everything, collectivization, class war, division, imprisonment, persecution, and even the distortion of the individual. Marx’s “genius,” applied fanatically in Albania, destroyed not only material values but also spiritual and moral ones. His infamous thesis is well known: “Religion is the opium of the people.” In the course of their history, in the application of this thesis, Albanians experienced only one great division. It was caused by the ideological fare preferred today by the PS’s extremist leaders: Marx’s philosophy, the doctrine of the communist ordeal, the doctrine of class war, the doctrine of atheism, and state tyranny against religious belief. By accepting the doctrine of Marx, the PS extremists have knowingly remained on the theoretical foundations of Enverism. Their platform for action is the theory of class war and all the other Marxist dogmas that were applied in Albania and that brought the Albanians disasters. Having hastily donned the skin of democratic socialism, the PS’s extremist leaders are losing patience day by day. They can hardly wait to be accepted as they truly are. First they played the Marx card to gauge the pulse of their electorate, and we will not be surprised if, little by little, they bring the other “classics” onto the stage (?). Because this was the inspiration of Nano, Pëllumbi, Ruçi, Dokle, Hajdaraga, and Co. But can the PS electorate agree to have Marx’s project imposed on them once again? Can Albanians accept class war being waged against them once more?! Can Albanians accept the denial of God and of true human values?! Can Albanians accept a second cultural and religious genocide, through monstrous acts of violation against the values of our civilization?! Can Albanians accept a return from mass privatization to mass nationalization?! All these questions have only one answer: NO, and only NO. Marx’s theory has been conclusively proven a failure. It was tested in all the former communist countries of the East. It was cast aside not by communist “capitalists,” but by the broad popular masses themselves, whom Marx supposedly held so “dear.” Albanians rejected it with contempt; the student hurricane swept it away. Only the PS’s “Don Quixotes” seek to return once again to this “deceptive dream”! In the next column: ... Marx’s project imposed on them once again? Can Albanians accept class war being waged against them once more?! ... All these questions have only one answer: NO, and only NO. Marx’s theory has been proven ... The theory of nihilism and the PS’s deranged, misshapen thinking. Is Marxism one of the causes of the PSSH’s crisis and profound failure? The Marxist alternative is an enemy of democracy. The socialist leader Servet Pëllumbi’s insistence on imposing Marx’s doctrine has encountered resistance even within his own party. It was the Eurosocialists who were called anti-Marxist, but the “idealism” and “tolerance” of the socialist leadership removed them from the political scene and broke the backbone of the Albanian Eurosocialists, only to replace them with “obedient boys” who swear by Marx’s beard. But no matter how much pressure the left-wing extremists exert to have the “science of violence” accepted as an idol, they will not achieve their goal. The Party of Labour achieved this because it applied the theory of violence and put Spaç and Burrel at its disposal, by which the old system was destroyed, while today’s democratic system was to be destroyed in order to create, together with Marx’s theory, a frightening dream. Caricature: a bearded figure holds a sword and a sign; in a speech bubble: “TOGETHER WITH ME? YOU MUST PUT A PART OF JENIN? T’J...”

Qualitative improvements in the PD’s structures. The PS cannot emerge from the deep crisis it is repeating on the basis of the PD Lushnje leadership. The Secretary General of PDSH, Prof. Dr. Tritan Shehu, took part. The PD has done very good work to improve the quality of its structures everywhere, noted the Secretary General of PDSH, Prof. Dr. Tritan Shehu. We are now reaping the fruits of this work as the election campaign in the PDSH branches in the districts draws to a close. At the same time, responsibility has also increased at this stage. Mr. Shehu stressed that branch leaderships must take the situation in hand and guide it competently, taking charge of it. This is necessary, Shehu continued, because today we are no longer in a situation like that of 1991 and 1992, but at a stage where the country and the PD are politically more mature and more consolidated; therefore, the tasks and obligations are different and even greater. Shehu emphasized the importance of the authority of PD branch leaderships, calling on them to assert themselves as much as possible and ensure the best possible organization. Shehu called for the party structures to be respected. “Respecting the structure you belong to means respecting yourself,” Mr. Shehu said. He emphasized the need to demand accountability and to divide responsibilities by territory and subject matter. In this context, Mr. Shehu said that further restructuring and reorganization of the sections was necessary, as well as developing the network of authority and recognizing their voice. The PD has reason to be proud. It has fulfilled most of its promises, emphasized the Secretary General of PDSH, Mr. Tritan Shehu, in his remarks at the meeting of the PD district council in Lushnje. The PD Secretary General stressed that today’s indicators of the situation show a rare degree of development and improvement. At the same time, he mentioned the inability to obtain [text unclear]. In this context, he said, the basis of the PD’s current propaganda must be built. “As we present our achievements to the electorate,” Mr. Shehu stressed, “we must communicate a strong explanatory message to people about these achievements.” Here Mr. Shehu discussed certain manifestations of nihilism within the PD as well, which reached the party’s highest levels; these manifestations were synchronized and coordinated with the shadows of the former State Security service. Mr. Shehu stressed that such manifestations of nihilism sought to paralyze the PD and create the impression that the PD could not govern. [The PD] can govern. Shehu went on to say that, alongside structuring and improving the electoral commissions, it was necessary to take a fairer view of how to publicize the PD’s achievements and accomplishments. This should be directed at the individual, through working with people to explain these achievements to them. An end must be put, Mr. Shehu emphasized, to collectivist campaigns, typical communist campaigns. Democracy looks to the individual, and propaganda must therefore be directed toward them, toward the individual. We should talk, explain, and inform people about achievements and political developments. We must make it clear to everyone, he said, that the PD is moving forward toward the full implementation of its program and that the PD is determined and will win the elections.

The amount of this fund reaches 317 million lekë The Albanian government has approved an additional fund of 317 million lekë for public investments, to be covered by its budget. This allocation, approved in recent days, mainly covers investments in infrastructure and education, in urban projects and others, extending geographically across most of Albanian territory. The largest share of this fund, 130 million lekë, has been allocated for the construction of 18 water-supply systems, including four in Korçë (60 million lekë). This fund will also be used to carry out full or partial works on the water-supply systems of Fier, Shkodër, Ersekë, Lushnjë, etc. For wastewater sewerage, 60 million lekë has been approved, to carry out works on the sewer networks of Durrës, Tirana, Vlorë, Lushnjë, Memaliaj, etc. A further 50 million lekë has been earmarked for improvements and asphalting in the cities of Vlorë, Elbasan, Korçë, Kajvaje, Lushnjë, and Shkodër. The additional fund for investment in national growth is 45 million lekë. In addition, two allocations of 5 million lekë each have been planned, respectively for expanding public cemeteries and for studies and designs. For primary education, the additional fund approved by the government is 15 million lekë, and for higher education it is 7 million lekë.

SAMI MILLOSHI “A president who draws his sword against his own people.” That is the headline of a report from Mati yesterday in “RD.” I get curious and read it. I want to know what is happening in Mati. From the headline I learn that two PS MPs, Ilir Meta and Halil Lala, and a socialist general, Belg, apparently held a meeting with the villagers of Has? German. Very good. I read the article and find out where the president with the sword is: he did not draw it. What is more, the correspondent himself says, “It was a very relaxed, calm conversation.” I imagine it really must have been a calm meeting. Halili has written that, and I know him. He told the truth; he is calm. I don’t know Liri, but since he was with Halili, he too must have behaved calmly. Besides, Belg’s very presence as a guest was surely a source of calm. The villagers, in fact, as the correspondent says, thanked Belg Goison. Then the correspondent says that “an engineer from the ferrochrome plant, a son of the village, asked the Belgian guest to tell him something about the policies and progress of privatization, and about property relations in Belgium.” Very good. The question, too, was surely asked very calmly. So where is the sword, then? Nowhere. Unless the Belgian’s companions charged at him with swords over “the policies and progress of privatization in Belgium.” Could that have happened? If it did, the Belgian must have reported it immediately...

Pëllumbi answers... but lies Forgetfulness is no argument Enver’s double emerges from the coffin When Arben Imami laughs The new leaders of PDSH branches invited to “RD” Interview with the Chairman of the PD branch in the Mirditë district, Mr. Gjon Pjetri Bukoshi: This is playing with fire

Secret letter from the Ministry of Internal Affairs to the Central Committee of the PPSH on reforms to the bust of dictator Hoxha PPSH leaders arrested The PD to be outlawed; the University of Tirana to be closed for several months The arrival of Ibrahim Rugova—a mistake Ismail Kadare’s return to Albania must not be allowed, etc.

LET’S TAKE TO THE SQUARES (AND HOLD MASS RALLIES TO FREE NANO!) I’VE JUST BEEN INFORMED THAT THE MEETING IS READY. EVERYTHING’S IN ORDER, BUT BEFORE WE SET OFF, WOULDN’T IT BE A GOOD IDEA TO TAKE SOME OLD PEOPLE ALONG? YOU NEVER KNOW, AN ELDERLY COMRADE MIGHT SHOW UP. WHERE ARE YOU GOING, YOU FRESSH GUY? GET IN THE CAR, YOU BIG-TIME FAMOUS ONE; ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE WORD “RALLY”? IT’S THE SCHEDULE’S FAULT, COMRADE (NOW THE CHAIRMAN—THE TV IS BROADCASTING TELEBUKA!) WHERE’S YOUR ELECTORATE, YOU PIG, YOU PIG!