Local elections deepen disputes among the left. The number of candidates increases in the coastal city ON PAGE 3 The opposition joins forces to win the local by-elections Splits the united forces of the governing coalition. Candidates for the successor to Fatos Nano at the head of the Albanian government

Customs, because Malaj was left without goods? The Prosecutor’s Office: “No one can remove him from Customs because Malaj would be left without goods” The opposition has long denounced government smuggling and the officials who run it. But the worsening economic situation in the country, especially the illegal activities of officials, is not coming to an end. The Property Restitution Commission has denounced [?] ON PAGE 7

By Asif PATOZI When Fino kept his calming and demonstratively liberal stance at the head of the government for seven months, even if only to drag along the ministers inherited from his predecessor, few could have imagined that he was quietly preparing one of the strongest post-1990 governing teams. Meanwhile, his successor, who is now completing a full ten months in the same chair, seems to have had his mind on the list of ministers all along, not on their performance. At least that is the impression created if one looks at the balance sheet of the rapid changes in Nano’s government, from the first days of its creation to the present. In fact, it seems that the effort to present Nano’s government as different from the others began as a large publicity campaign, only to end up in a routine no one had imagined. Because, apart from what we already know, the new government was baptized as the cabinet of the future, not because it would govern tomorrow, but with the idea of governing differently. Yet it did not take long for people to become convinced that things remained the same. If for a few weeks the new ministers found it easy to project to the public the image of active people, this happened only thanks to the prime minister’s early moves, which he must surely have understood would not hold for long if he continued with the same tactic. Nothing remained of the so-called “new spirit” of the government, embodied in the first appointments of deputy ministers, general directors, prefects, all the way to ambassadors. Aside from the change of names, no one can say that there has been a qualitative leap in the governance of the country. It is enough to remember that during the first period of Nano’s government, the ministers of Public Order, Defence, Justice, Transport, Trade, Education, Culture, Local Government and more were changed with great fanfare. Then came the second wave of purges, which affected deputy ministers, directors, prefects, chairmen of district and regional councils, police chiefs, and even the heads of public enterprises. Every time a change occurred, it was justified by the need to increase efficiency and accelerate reforms. But today, after so many months, the only visible balance sheet is that the government has moved many people around without noticeably improving the quality of governance. In this sense, inertia seems to have become its main way of surviving. Not only because the government moves in order to show that it is doing something, but because it often fails to turn the expectations it loudly raises into concrete decisions. Instead of deep reforms, the public sees a rotation of names. Instead of clear priorities, it sees delayed reactions. And instead of results, it hears excuses. That is why many people today see the government as a structure that keeps going by inertia, relying on the lack of a clear alternative, on the divisions among its opponents, and on the endless patience of citizens. But no government can live long on those alone. Especially when it has itself promised to bring a new style of leadership. ON PAGE 4

Arapi, Malaj and Bundo, who is the strongest? They will aim for a general strike with a hunger strike Albert Tevjezi, 300 workers are taking part in the strike Wages, punishment of illegality and avoidance of bankruptcy — this is the alternative offered by “strong” Albanian trade unionism. ON PAGE 4

The retreat of the opposition’s egos for the local by-elections ON PAGE 4

The Berzani Commission finally gives an answer ON PAGE 4

SBSH: The sleepy government, the last one leaves the first SBSH: The sleepy government, the crisis of the first’s last Belt-tightening in the latest attention ON PAGE 4

The police of Berifit behave for the conscience of the intergovernmental accusation of the incriminated government ON PAGE 4

Shkodër, the decree of the “Qiu-k” in Tirana turns into pressure ON PAGE 7

Facts, thefts and masks in the name of the revolution Paskal Milo, Giokë Malaj’s assistant accusation, Pres! the split between Sali Berisha, the leader, and the “revolution”? Special on page 5 In the next issue you will read:

Achievement of the Socialist Party Xhel Qeni’s PD appears to be the successor of the Socialist Party. According to a document found in the archive, this is the seal with which the Albanian government was baptized. Tomorrow on page 8 other documents will also be published. - The Albanian state has also paid for the trips. - The lawyer of non-recognition has arrived in Italy. - The exchange rate, Qiriazi lost, came out on top. - Tirana, student and uncle’s strike. - Sali ngahës, the village mourns. - The event with the first telephone voices.

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