“Union for Democracy” wins convincingly in Kavajë, Progr, Lazarat, etc. The Mayor of Vlorë is elected with a quarter of the votes. Nano like Milošević. Only in Serbia has such an abandonment of elections occurred A refrigerator-cold percentage in the 21 June elections. Drought in the rebel areas. The left-wing coalition loses more than half its votes

The partial local elections held on Sunday were neither fair nor free. The first point was evident from the major irregularities in Vlorë, where the OSCE even closed a polling station, and the numerous instances of manipulation at several polling stations in Vlorë, Rroskovec, Gjirokastër, Patos, etc. That they were not free is evident from the very small, extremely small number of people who took part in the vote. In Albania, since the elections of March 1991, turnout has never fallen to figures as low as those recorded on Sunday. In almost all the municipalities or towns where these left-wing candidates ran, turnout was around 40 percent, something quite traditional for Albanians on election day. This reminds us of the elections in Serbia, which were repeated several times. Meanwhile, despite the police presence, terror and psychological violence being as great as in the elections of 29 June, [the Democrats] won convincingly in areas where the Socialists had won a year earlier. The result in Kavajë and that in Lazarat bring to mind the elections of March 1992, while the Socialists managed to exceed the figure of five in only one municipality. “Union for Democracy” came first or second in every case, consolidating its permanent strength as the leading political force throughout the country, while in these partial local elections the Socialists even came third, as in Shijak. The Democrats scored decisive victories in the south, central Albania and the north, while the Socialists not only saw a major decline in their support but also failed to establish a single left-wing enclave of their own, apart from areas where they have traditionally had influence, such as Ura Vajgurore. The figure from March 1991 is not at such a level; those from the headquarters [are]. Potentially, in all the municipalities or city councils where left-wing candidates came out on top, turnout was below 40 percent, something quite traditional for Albanians on voting were repeated several times. Twenty [people] sensed the presence of the police, the terror and psychological violence that had been prepared and carried out in some areas and polling stations. At the same time, people also stayed away from the polls because of the dispersal of the voting institutions on June 29. Many people no longer believe in the vote as an institution for change or participation in government. More and more, they are seeking greater distance from the current government, and this is expressed through the boycott, which is a protest directed at the state. In the city of Vlora, out of fifty thousand voters, only fifteen thousand took part—that is, around five times fewer. No mayor seems willing to govern with only one-fifth of his citizens. The same picture can be seen in Roskovec, in the two municipalities of Elbasan, and elsewhere. When people no longer have the opportunity to cast a vote for the authorities they deal with every day, this is a major state responsibility. The responsibility is even greater when the government itself creates conditions that prevent them from taking part in elections, as happened with the large groups of special forces in Roskovec and Vlora. Although the partial local elections were far from the standards of normal elections, the PD achieved a significant rise in all the areas where elections were held. Naturally, the places where the elections took place were able to prevent alternatives from being replaced with a sack of flour sent by the Socialist Party, as in the municipality of Sinaballaj, or with a secure, permanent job replaced by a one-month job for participants in the municipality of Zavalina in Elbasan. The Democrats and “Union for Democracy” recorded a proportional increase of around 15 percent more than the main policies in all international countries [sic]. In these partial local elections, the socialists also came third, as in Shijak. The Democrats scored resounding the socialists, besides their losses and a major drop in their support, failed to establish any new left-wing enclave as Ura Vajgurore, Patos or Gjergjan. The current government has no grounds for optimism after these partial elections. On the contrary, its support in rural areas, where it mainly relied on it this time, is not secure, even because of the natural conformism found among these parts of the population. Meanwhile, the socialist government has done nothing to foster the countryside and its businesses. It can be said that the countryside is today the most neglected part of society, something that will very soon lead to its revolt on the scale already seen in almost all the country’s cities. The incentive of a monthly wage or employment convinces no one—or convinces them for a few minutes, thereby extinguishing future anger for the time being, along with government deception. Looking at the voting figures, they are much lower than on June 29, despite the fact that this time an entire state apparatus was at the service of votes for the governing coalition. The fact that only 28 percent of voters cast ballots in Vlora, where they had considered their stronghold to be, gives an idea of the turnout that would have been recorded across the country if they had been near the ballot boxes. Such a fact is evident in all the areas of communist rebellion. It is natural that the blow to the socialists will come in the future precisely where they have abused their power the most. In Vlora, the socialists have also abused people’s blood. The partial local elections, despite numerous serious violations, violence and state pressure, did not mark the government’s colonization, the rapid decline of the left, and the rapid rise of the Democrats in “Union for Democracy.”

PD chairman Berisha met yesterday with the ambassador of the United States of America in Tirana, Mariza Lino, at the latter’s request. In their lengthy conversation, the chairman of the PDSH and the American ambassador discussed in particular the critical escalation of recent developments in The chairman of the PD, Berisha, met with the American ambassador, Mariza Lino

The establishment of the Director of the Government Services Directorate after the explosive blast

The guards of Zan’s deputy do not vote for him either The deputy of Zan Çaushti, Shkëndër Gjinushi, arrived in the city of Vlora yesterday evening, together with a police escort and accompanied by numerous special forces, to claim the victory he had lost at any cost. But, finding himself confronted by witnesses, he could no longer contain himself: he insulted everyone around him and set off for Tirana at breakneck speed. Desperate over his loss in Vorë, Gjinushi, in one of his usual moments of composure, accused PD deputy Shaban Memia, whom he identified as having caused the “Alliance for the State” to lose in Vorë. We remind Zan Çaushti’s deputy that not only Vorë no longer votes for him, but neither do his guards.

ON PAGE 3

The local elections register Albanians’ protest against the criminal regime. The opposition sees a significant increase in its electorate ON PAGE 3

escalation of recent developments in Kosovo, the importance, in the current situation, of a political solution to the Kosovo issue and its support by all Albanian political parties and forces, the role and involvement of the USA and NATO in the Kosovo crisis, and the consequences these events may have for Albania, the Balkans, and other regions. The interlocutors also discussed the problems and the situation in northern Albania, where thousands of arrivals from Kosovo are being received as a result of Serbian genocide, as well as the most appropriate measures that could be taken to deal with this situation and any other eventuality. During the meeting, PD chairman Berisha and American ambassador Mariza Lino also discussed the progress and assessment of the partial local elections held yesterday in our country, as well as current and future political developments in Albania.

Elections held under the “care” of the special forces ON PAGE 2

Prog. The Democrats’ determination defeats the government of thieves ON PAGE 2

Business bankruptcy: a deficit of 38.4 billion lekë in five months ON PAGE 5

Greens and vegetables are now more expensive than at the beginning of the season ON PAGE 5

- England - Romania 1:2. The British are in difficulty in qualifying. - Tunisia - Colombia 0:1. A last-gasp victory. - Predictions from the greats who are missing from the World Cup. Yeah sees Nigeria in the final, Rui Kosta chooses Argentina... - Maldini: “It will go my way”. The Italian team’s coach speaks - Germany, the team that never gives up. - Just a few hours before the match against Yugoslavia, Mateus predicted: “German pride will win”. Interview with the player who has broken every record - The first two groups. Which teams will go further? A look - Batistuta, king of goals SPECIAL FEATURE ON PAGES 10–11