After the publication in “Shqiptarja.com” of CEZ’s abuse of customers, officials’ secrets come out Fatmir Mediu is the minister with zero kilowatts, while Argita has many houses but consumes little. The prime minister’s daughter reports 0 kilowatts for the villa in Gjiri i Lalzit, and so does Shkëlzeni for the house in Tirana News State officials among the highest paid in Albania, who own several houses, both pay and are indebted to the Czech electricity distribution company, CEZ. The investigation by “Shqiptarja.com” gives an overview of the bills that the country’s top officials (do not) pay, from the head of state to ministers and their family members. ■■TIRANE Arben Rrozhani Millions of lek a month to settle CEZ bills. That is what the families of the highest-paid officials in Albania should normally spend, from the head of state to the governor of the Bank of Albania, the speaker of parliament, the prime minister and his family, MPs and ministers: all joined in a single tally of the obligations arising from electricity bills. Electricity bills, especially in the cold season, are a major burden on Albanian family budgets. Most people try not to exceed the first tariff band, up to 300 kilowatts, which is billed at 7.5 lek, while after that the price becomes 13 lek. When they have no meters, they are billed at a flat rate, as CEZ wishes or plans. These calculations do not apply to Albania’s important people, from the president to MPs, who have enough income to cover energy costs, which are becoming increasingly expensive. They receive million-lek bills, but... continues on page 2 In the photo: Facsimile of Governor Fullani’s bill for the villa at Mali i Robit (circled) and the governor’s debt to CEZ

Editorial By Genc Kondi Why is CEZ silent? Anyone who has followed the behavior of the private electricity distribution company toward the Albanian public so far cannot help but notice a stance that is far from usual for it in recent times. Equipped with well-staffed press offices, led by public relations professionals who know both the psychology of Albanians and that of foreigners, they have responded instantly to every remark or criticism made about their work by the media or citizens. In some cases, rightfully so; in some cases, not. But the response has always been there. Why has the company remained silent so far after the publication of a number of articles, based on lists of fines, orders from the directorate, etc., that “Shqiptarja.com” has made public for all its readers? Of course, it is not the right moment for it to enter into media debates, precisely when — as the end of the year approaches — it has submitted to ERE a request to increase electricity tariffs. But this does not concern the substance of the articles, the issue raised in the pages of our newspaper, namely: did CEZ act in line with the spirit of the market economy and the rule of law when it used temporary contracts to increase billing? When it insisted on not fulfilling the legal obligation to install meters controlled and certified by the state and a third party? Did it fulfill its legal obligations to reduce losses in the network, supply energy with modern technical parameters, etc., according to contractual commitments? Silence in this case speaks to the fact that CEZ has nothing to say...

COLLISION 27-year-old woman dies. The tragic accident happened on Sunday Besmira Muçaj The accident that occurred two days earlier, which resulted in the death of a 27-year-old woman and the injury of two others, has led to the arrest of the alleged perpetrator who is said to have caused this tragic accident, Ledian Ruçi, the son of opposition MP Gramoz Ruçi, as well as the other driver, Eduart Canin. The two drivers of the crashed vehicles will remain detained until the very end of the investigation into the case in order to establish who is at fault. The serious incident happened on... On page 9

Businessman: I offered no money. Habilaj sentenced in 1997 Poli Hoxha For four straight hours, MP Dritan Prifti, in his capacity as the main witness in the trial against former deputy prime minister Ilir Meta at the Supreme Court, answered questions from the prosecution and the defense lawyers for the accused. In addition to what had already been known from the wiretapped video, Prifti also made another serious accusation against Meta: “He offered me 1 million dollars to split between the two of us, for a crude oil auction at ALBPETROL”...

Page 11 Berisha’s adviser approves master’s degrees for his private school Page 13

Page 10 Roundtable of the small parties for the elections, Meta-Gjinushi exchanges revealed Page 6

Periphery By Alba Malltezi The children of politicians and super-luxury cars Page 9

Literary prize By Admirina Peçi Page 14