THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT AND DEEPENING OF THE MASS LINE REVOLUTIONIZES THE PARTY AND THE ENTIRE LIFE OF THE COUNTRY
The situation in our country is stable. Albania creates and advances with the working class, the cooperative peasantry, the people's intelligentsia, through its own forces.
General emancipation has been accompanied by the revolutionization of Party life and the deepening of socialist democracy.
Our people and Party, in unbreakable unity, have worked and continue to work to make the country more prosperous, and to further strengthen and revolutionize life. In this sense, the decisions of the 9th Plenum of the Central Committee, and the important speech by Comrade Ramiz Alia, were received with particular interest both by ordinary people and by communists and cadres. The tasks set out at this high-level forum are so important that they require the thought and militancy of everyone. The question is how to put them into practice. And they are implemented not with words, pledges, and frequent meetings, but through work, culture and imagination, with a dynamic style and method.
A broad field for concrete action is the further revolutionization of the inner life of the Party's basic organization. From now on, as was said at the Plenum, it will become a more active life for ordinary working people and specialists. They are the ones who, being interested in what is discussed, will ask questions and make suggestions, and encourage constructive debate in order to reach decisions that can be more effectively monitored and implemented, and to advance production. In an environment of people interested in overcoming certain outdated bureaucratic and liberal practices and methods, communists, cadres, specialists and workers will make greater demands, because they will feel that they bear greater responsibility. The path for confusion and gossip—“it was said, why wasn't it said, what was done and why wasn't it done?”—will also be closed, because things will be said openly. In this way, the entire activity of the basic organization as a whole will be placed more firmly and continuously under the control of the working masses, while the militant communists in particular, in their ideas, organization and concrete achievements, will gain everyone's strong support. Now, as we say, it will no longer be “Only the organization knows,” but “the organization knows, and we know too.”
For open meetings to be held at the level underscored by the 9th Plenum of the Party's Central Committee, the immediate task is to ensure that the organizational structures, organizations and apparatuses are as dynamic and agile as possible. There have already been successes. But the new emphasis placed on this issue at the 9th Plenum calls for flexibility, not a campaign-style approach, and more concrete steps in the fight against bureaucratism and liberalism. These measures are required by the dialectical development of life. As we move along the path of uninterrupted development in production, education, culture, etc., weaknesses of growth also often accumulate. Therefore, rust, indifference and bureaucratism must be removed from basic organizations—evils which appear and, if not fought, take root and harm the work. It is true that among us there is no dividing wall or contradiction between the apparatuses and ordinary people. But it is a fact that, in some cases, the closest ties between them are hindered by bureaucratic methods and practices, and mutual concessions. Bureaucratism, however, is not fought with bureaucratic or administrative means, but by increasing the role of the masses, strengthening socialist democracy, and relying on strength and greater representation of the working class. The very way cadres are chosen is an expression of democracy on a broad scale.
Whether someone is elected or selected in a Party basic organization is an important matter, and it has a direct effect: the working class and the masses choose the best, the most dedicated. There will be differing opinions. But they must not be politicized. The exchange and clash of views—“this one is capable,” but “that other one is more capable”—is not a bad thing at all; it can only be beneficial. Through a discussion raised collectively, without dictation or pressure, the most suitable candidates will emerge and be chosen.
Our appointed or elected cadres are devoted to the cause of the Party and the people. They serve wherever the Homeland needs them. The masses, too, always see themselves, in every sphere of social activity, as an organizing, creative and implementing force of decisive importance. But in keeping with general emancipation and the frontal development of the economy, culture and science, cadres at all levels and in all institutions must feel more accountable to the workers. The present situation requires that the terms of office of some appointed or elected officials be limited. In this way, rotation also becomes a concrete practice. It is a mistake to think that certain cadres have “mastered” the work of the Party as a whole and of the people, and are therefore irreplaceable. A cadre and specialist, and a body of workers, should choose—and choose democratically.
The 9th Plenum of the Party's Central Committee calls on everyone to work, and to work much harder. A communist, cadre, intellectual, worker or cooperative farmer is a revolutionary when they act immediately, without waiting to see what others will say or do. Let us not forget one thing, which everyone must understand clearly: more than ever, the masses are watching communists and cadres closely—how they act, how they discuss, how they orient themselves. The Party's demands and instructions are concrete. Action must be concrete too. The point is that no one, cadres included, should imagine that the influences of bureaucratism and liberalism lie outside themselves. On the contrary, each must act as a militant, as an active citizen, openly state their view of “how they can do more and where they can contribute more as a communist, as a cadre,” engage in self-criticism and identify tasks. If necessary, they should themselves propose rotation, reassignment or relinquishing their post. A militant Party organization, apparatus or collective is one that fights the notion of “wait and see,” acts to ease the administrative burden, proposes the necessary candidates and puts the most capable people in charge. Maneuvers and efforts to avoid touching some people's positions and wages are anachronistic. The psychology of fear—“who knows what will happen to us…”
and a dynamic will become a more active life. At various stages, our Party has given the work of revolutionizing and democratizing itself its utmost attention. With this aim, the opinion of the masses has also been sought on all the major problems that have concerned the Party. This valuable opinion has been gathered through various forms and practices. But today the broad mass of workers is given the opportunity to express its views more directly at every meeting of the Party’s basic organization. Such a democratic practice makes better use of suggestions and proposals for resolving the problems raised by life. And to ensure that this democracy within the Party is implemented as well as possible, workers, like everyone else, will gladly attend the open meeting, not merely to satisfy their curiosity as visitors. The Party’s basic organizations need, and will continue to need, the views of the par-[?]
A field for concrete action also includes Plenum, it views more directly at every meeting of the continue to need, the views of the par-[?]
...ticipation of everyone. From now on there is no need to say, «Only the organization knows»; instead, to be held at the levels emphasized by the 9th Plenum of the Party’s CC, formalism must be eliminated. These meetings have great educational and informative value, because they will not consist of endless speeches or be held just to go through the motions. At open meetings, the broad masses are given extensive information about good experience, about those who both carry out and direct the work, about the approaches followed and the decisive factors, as well as about weaknesses and shortcomings and the causes of backwardness. In this way, unity of thought and action strengthens mobilization for implementing economic development plans and addressing every issue that concerns the people. What is essential is that «open meetings» raise the level of information and clear judgment, as Comrade Ramiz Alia instructed during the proceedings of this Plenum: «a school not only for communists, but also for the working masses»...
The Party press has sought and attracted [?]cialists of the country, as well as through by Sotir Kocollari, president of the General Council of the BPSH, who had to say, «Only the organization knows»; instead, for communists, but also for the working masses».
Often the Party has sought and attracted to say, «Only the organization knows»; instead, for communists, but also for the working masses».
...bureaucratic and administrative, while increasing the role of the masses and strengthening socialist democracy through the way cadres will be It will not only fulfil people’s wishes, but will also place capable people at the head of affairs, people who will know how to govern and meet growing responsibilities. Our cadre corps is large. Whereas once it would have taken many days, perhaps even months, to choose and appoint a cadre, today the collective selects one on the spot. For among its members are cadres, Party members and non-Party members alike, who can competently lead an enterprise, a combine, an institution or a committee... The Party’s norms will be upheld. As always, the Party has guided and will continue to guide cadre policy with care. Mass democracy, the election of directors, terms of office in elections, etc., clearly demonstrate the Party’s strength. But abandoning established schemes that have taken root here and there is not easy. It is precisely here that determination is needed, bi-[?] to say, «Only the organization knows»; instead, for communists, but also for the working masses».
...nave for the Party. To be oriented in this way, to seek young cadres with sound qualifications, experience and ability, means putting into practice a repeated instruction of the Party: that the youth should take up the baton of the revolution and carry it forward. «The times, the present situation,» Comrade Ramiz Alia emphasized at the Plenum, «will not tolerate bureaucratic attitudes. They must be brought to an end, and the sooner the better. Let us do this, even if necessary with some sacrifice, because every stage in the revolutionization of the life of the Party and the country requires the style of a new-[?]
...undertakings are attitudes of this kind and a lack of awareness of new experience. But shortcomings and weaknesses are not simply the fault of those who have committed them; they have social and political causes that must be fought. Our district must not make sacrifices. In this concrete matter, method. learned the ropes» of the work of the Party, the government and mass organizations. And that, as such, they have the right to hold a post for a long time, regardless of whether they can manage it. A capable cadre cannot sit back and let the job do the work; he thinks harder about the work, about fulfilling his obligations to the people and the Party. To be oriented toward of a new-[?]
...as they roll along, in charge. Indulgence and efforts to avoid cutting some people’s salaries are anachronistic. The psychology of fear—«who knows what they’ll say if they’re removed»—is outdated.
It goes without saying that the words of Comrade Ramiz Alia at the 9th Plenum are not to be compromised, not even by a discussion, an article or a notice. The decisions of this forum call for study and informed action by everyone, so that they may be implemented creatively, quickly and without delay; so that the broad mass of workers is mobilized, and they are made fully committed to fulfilling and carrying out the plan’s tasks, giving impetus to socialist construction and to the revolutionization of the Party and the entire life of the country. All this is aimed at raising the well-being of the working masses, increasing productivity and output, and ensuring fuller supplies for the people. There is no doubt that the victories achieved will be further consolidated under the leadership of the Party, with Comrade Ramiz Alia at its head.