Decision of the 9th Plenum of the Central Committee of the Party The 9th Plenum of the CC of the PPSh held its proceedings on 22 and 23 January 1990. It discussed, approved and issued for implementation a series of measures that serve the revolutionary transformation of party life and of the whole country, under conditions of the deepening of the process of democratization of socialist life. The decision emphasizes that these measures serve to enrich and further advance the development of our socialist democracy, in accordance with Marxist-Leninist principles, at a time when the people increasingly demand to solve their own affairs themselves; our socialism has been built and is being strengthened on the basis of the free will of the masses and their broad participation in the running of the country. The ongoing revolutionary process in the countries of the former East requires careful and objective analysis, in order to draw lessons without taking a negating stance toward anything achieved in our country. The decision underscores that our historical experience proves that the party of the working class has been and remains the leading force of our society, but this leading role requires further improvement of working methods, strengthening of ties with the masses, and struggle against every manifestation of bureaucracy, formalism and subjectivism. IT DECIDED: I To strengthen ever more and continuously the inner-party democracy and to expand and deepen socialist democracy throughout the life of the whole country. 1. To fight every thought and action that does not conform to our advocacy and practice of socialist democracy and the political rights of citizens. To eliminate every viewpoint that sees political freedoms and rights as a gift bestowed upon the masses, or as tolerance shown toward them. 2. To raise to a higher level the role of the party grassroots organizations as a political and educational force in life and production. To mobilize the thinking of communists more actively, to encourage free, open and sincere discussion about the problems of work, the life of the country and the party’s activity, in accordance with its political line. 3. To increase the sense of responsibility and accountability of party and state cadres before party organizations and workers’ collectives. To expand the practice of consulting the masses on important decisions of an economic, social and cultural nature. 4. To strengthen workers’ control and social oversight over the implementation of laws, decisions and tasks. To fight resolutely against abuses, unjustified privileges, and violations of state and social discipline. 5. To improve the forms of informing public opinion about important issues in the country’s development, about successes and difficulties, about the problems that arise and the way they are solved. IT DECIDED: II To further revolutionize the internal life of the party and improve its methods of leadership. 1. To fight every manifestation of the cult of the individual, of top-down command, of underestimating the opinion of the grassroots, and of replacing persuasive work with administrative orders. 2. To raise the ideological-political and professional level of cadres higher, to strengthen the principle of their election, control and responsibility before those who elected them. 3. To expand criticism and self-criticism as a necessary method of party life. To create a healthy climate in which every communist may freely express his or her opinion, without fear of prejudice or punishment for principled positions. 4. To strengthen the struggle against conservatism, dogmatism, bourgeois liberalism and every foreign ideological influence, relying on the Marxist-Leninist line of the party and on the interests of socialism. IT DECIDED: III For the improvement of socialist legislation. The state and empowered bodies are tasked with preparing and submitting for consideration the necessary changes in our legislation, in accordance with the country’s political, economic and social developments, with the expansion of citizens’ rights and the strengthening of the socialist rule-of-law state. IV On relations with the outside world. Our party and our state will closely follow international developments and will work to expand relations with all countries on the basis of equality, mutual respect and non-interference in internal affairs. The national interests, freedom, independence and sovereignty of the socialist Homeland will be defended consistently. V For the implementation of the force of the decision. The 9th Plenum of the Central Committee charges the party organizations, state bodies, social organizations and the working masses with the task of making this decision their own, working for its creative implementation and further strengthening the people’s confidence in the Party of Labour of Albania and in socialism.