Parliament approves the mixed electoral law Doke: We will review the agreement with Vranicki and the possibility of jeopardizing the National Reconciliation government Regarding yesterday’s parliamentary session, the PS parliamentary group stated last night that 9 Socialist deputies would not take part in today’s morning session, in protest against the approval of the above draft law with the votes of the majority. PS deputy from Shkodër, Zef Doke, told the press that he considers all yesterday’s parliamentary votes invalid, since 2/3 of this majority does not exist. This is because yesterday’s vote did not determine the qualified majority needed to approve this draft law. Out of 140 votes in parliament, 92 are not necessarily 2/3. For the PS deputy, the calculation of the qualified majority should be made not on the basis of the number of deputies in parliament, but on the number of deputies present in the chamber. Doke explained that the socialists had agreed with Vranicki on 26 March 1997 to create a government of consensus and also on the election of a joint bipartisan commission with full mandate to prepare the legal framework for the elections. According to him, yesterday’s vote broke this agreement and is now seeking to use this commission not as bipartisan but as its own instrument for the 29 June elections. Doke said that the socialists would return to the parliamentary boycott until the majority agrees to convene the bipartisan commission again and reconsider its decision. The Socialist deputy said that the other center-left parties of the alliance are expected to take a position on this issue. Regarding the possibility that the absence from government of 9 Socialist deputies could cause a crisis in the National Reconciliation government, Doke said that the possibility cannot be ruled out that the PS will take further decisions in this direction. “We will continue until our demands are met for the existence of the bipartisan commission with a full mandate to draft the election law,” he said. As for the position the socialists would take toward the National Reconciliation government, Doke said that “the two issues are independent.” He said that this commission is in no way capable of making the electoral process transparent and that therefore a new commission is needed. In addition, he assessed that yesterday’s approval of some amendments to the electoral law would harm Albanian TV, thereby undermining a greater equality between the sides in the election campaign. According to Doke, there is a kind of terror in the electronic media, which proves that there are no equal conditions for political forces. “As far as the type of electoral system is concerned, we have already made our compromise before Vranicki and there is no problem with the mixed system. The problem lies in the legal framework of the elections,” he declared. Fino u shhar i bindur i PS In the afternoon majority, apart from in the special commission, the new feature of the PS, likewise 140 votes in parliament for the mixed law. If the opposition deputies do not show up, the above draft law has a risk of major costs. [partially unreadable text][?]

Genc Pollo, Secretary General of the PD What is your assessment of the amendments made to the electoral law? I must remind you that the amendments were proposed and accepted by the bipartisan parliamentary commission, which on 26 March 1997 was created before the mediation of Austrian Chancellor Vranitzky and the American envoy Hill. In this joint commission, the parliamentary political parties except the Socialists, the parliamentary opposition, the Republicans and the Alliance have worked without interruption. For more than a month they have been trying in an organized and deliberate way to sabotage this process. These amendments do not infringe any right of the opposition. On the contrary, they establish clearer rules for competition and for the distribution of television time. It seems to me that the Socialists’ reaction is part of the boycott strategy and the delegitimization of the electoral process. (continued on page 2)

It was because on Thursday a group of FRESH supporters was trying to enter the violent PS rally in “Skënderbej” square and to protest peacefully with slogans such as “Nano, put down the weapons”, “Enough Socialists”, “Do not play with the people”, and others. In a demonstrative move, FRESH broke the police metal barricade and began forcing its way into the square packed with Socialist militants. At that moment the police intervened only to stop FRESH from entering and not to disperse the rally. As soon as FRESH withdrew, the police also withdrew and the rally continued. The newspaper “Koha Jonë” lied by presenting this as a “police massacre”. “Koha Jonë” played the same game yesterday as well by falsifying the TVSH film footage. By showing only images of policemen carrying an injured protester on their shoulders, without first showing that this protester had forcibly broken through the protective barrier, the aim was to create the impression of unprovoked police violence. The same scheme was used on 26 May 1996, when the police intervened to prevent the polling stations from being attacked. Then as now, the PS tries to manipulate public opinion by presenting itself as the victim of violence that in fact it provoked itself.

Extremism is strengthening in the PS During his speech before a group of people in “Skënderbej” square, the head of the PS, Fatos Nano, declared that he would soon travel to Greece, Italy, Germany and the USA in order for “the international community to understand that fire is being played with in Albania.” Speaking about the situation in the south, Nano stated that “the current власти has lost control” and that “the north is preparing for war against the south.” He also mentioned the need for “organizing self-defense.” At the end of his speech, Nano called on supporters not to hand over their weapons. These statements have been commented on as inciting and destabilizing, while various analysts have linked them to the further radicalization of the PS. (continued on page 7) During the final speech the leader, Dr.ali[?] Baci, and two po[?]ot?e[?]orët vendë nazivizmi në jug, sherri të sigurinë në shtetet. No. 13 [unreadable][?]

ON PAGE 3 Fino: Do not go to Vlorë because they do not want you there Arlinn Haci[?] ON PAGE 4 The chairman of the Democratic Party in Berat The armed wing is endangering the elections ON PAGE 4

Criminal gangs are carrying out violent mobilization in Vlorë The hostage of Zan[t]i[?] is freed On page 2