The Central Election Commission announces the results of the first-round vote A parliament that avoids crisis On 26/5/1996, the first round of elections for MPs was held throughout the country. After examining all the documentation of the People's Republic of Albania, the Central Election Commission establishes: In these elections, 115 electoral districts with 1115 polling stations took part; Of the country's 1,693,434 voters, 98% voted; For candidates of political parties, 59 candidates from political parties and 18 independent candidates voted; For the elections in 115 electoral districts, 68 natives, 97 clergy, 76 women, 20 criminals, 67 businessmen, 99 officials, 108 murder [?]. Reason for the interruption of the first round and candidates because they canceled the voting and den for the reasons? In the second round in 12 polling districts, it should be held on 26/5/1996 among the candidates of the Democratic Party 59%, 17.76%, 97 clergy, 99 officials, 108 purple. In this second round the right-wing coalition with the left won 81.0% of the vote, but the real opposition did not accept the result. The CEC announces that the second round will be held on 2 June and the elected candidates will be announced according to the order of votes. Meanwhile, polling stations across the country reported high participation and a calm process. Read on page 2

As the first unaccused journalist mentioned at length during the work of the delegation of members of the Council of Europe in Tirana, Fisher completely rejected, with facts, all the slanders stirred up by the socialists’ sectarians who were spying on them Continued on page 3

The sensational uproar in the press column [?] The arrival [?] of the Albanian case in the German Bundestag received a zealous reaction from the political adviser of President Hanez Shmak, Mr. Peter [?]. In a statement it is said that the process was regular and that isolated incidents do not affect the final result. The Democratic Party has won by a considerable margin. His assessment is presented as support for the Albanian institutions. Read on page 2

Statement by the President of the Republic Today it came naturally to me to thank all Albanian citizens who went to the ballot boxes yesterday. It came naturally to me to thank all Albanian citizens who, with their extraordinary participation in Sunday’s elections, demonstrated their unshakable will to determine the fate of themselves and their children in a democratic government. These second elections helped show that Albanians voted with the victory of democracy and of a new Albania in Europe. Albanians made a wise choice and sent a clear message that the country’s future belongs to democracy. Read on page 2

From the foreign press on the elections in Albania The claims about the elections are slander stemming from the great nervousness of the socialists The sensational statements of the response are Austrian conservative popular purity From the foreign press on the elections in Albania Albanian socialists try to create unrest The claims about the elections are slander stemming from the great nervousness of the socialists The sensational statements of the response are Austrian conservative popular purity France calls for an exemplary second round Britain expresses regret over the opposition’s return

No PS sympathizer has been killed or injured Persecution continues, today it is the official organ [?] of the uproar, unconstitutional and anti-government, where it brings all the opposition’s accusations against the right-wing government. Together with the organ of the PS, the game of speculation over the killing of Eduard [?] continues. Instead of the opposition dealing with calming tensions, it continues to throw gasoline on the fire. Its position aims to profit politically from the tragedy. The elections have shown that the people do not fall prey to provocations. Read on page 2

The political secretary of the Italian Christian Democrats Ferdinando Casini, in a telephone conversation with the chairman of the Democratic Party, Dr. Sali Berisha, congratulated this political force on its victory in yesterday’s elections. Casini assessed the result as important and expressed support for the Albanian democratic forces. The message emphasizes the need for political stability and respect for the will of the voters.