- Contrary to constitutional provisions, the Constitution will not be approved by parliament before being submitted to the people for a referendum. Why is the PD afraid of debate in parliament? The Democratic Party stands alone against the other Albanian parties, both left and right. By demanding respect for the law today, the Socialists are seeking a democratic constitution for tomorrow, one without personal dictatorship, a king, or a first secretary.

The President finally bids Parliament “Farewell” - The PD deputies, chess pieces in

Yesterday morning, amid a tense political situation, the General Steering Committee of the PS met. Its proceedings were opened and chaired by the PS deputy chairman, Mr. Servet Pëllumbi. In his opening remarks, he set out the three points the Committee would discuss and on which the corresponding decisions and statements would be presented: the Constitution and the position in parliament and, subsequently, regarding the referendum; 2—the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Homeland; the monopolization of this event by the Ministry of Internal Affairs; 3) the resolution of the Committee of the Inter-Parliamentary Union on the “Nano issue.” After presenting this agenda, PS deputy chairman Servet Pëllumbi spoke about the current political situation in the country, as well as the tasks facing the PS and the alternatives for dealing with it. “We are obliged to meet urgently, at the outset,” Servet Pëllumbi said at the beginning of his speech, “to discuss the political situation—not so much what has happened, which was entirely unexpected, as what must not be allowed to happen. “Even up to now, not merely by intuition but on the basis of concrete analyses and facts, we have foreseen a series of dangers gradually inherent in the situation, albeit developing at a rapid pace, and in the democratic potential that the PD claimed to possess to a greater degree. The moment has now come to say that there is no longer any need to follow the trail, because, especially after the move that S. Berisha called ‘blocking parliament for the PD,’ we are faced with a constitutional coup, a decisive move at the macro-political level to pave the way for institutionalizing strongman rule. All that remains is the referendum copied by the PD, in a convenient example, to put the finishing touch to the democratic façade it seeks to use to conceal and embellish Berisha’s personal power. “In the message of the President of the Republic, together with the post Dr. Ylli Pëllumbi, there was a retreat from the idea of a Constituent Assembly appointed by decree, followed by the proposal for a ‘Constitution Commission’ or a popular referendum. In both cases, we have an open and parallel method. ... [the text in the lower section is unclear] “We see these facts as a political victory for the opposition, for the opposition forces, which, despite their different political leanings, have arrived at the same position regarding the law on referendums. This is a new phenomenon in Albanian political life. Between these two political forces there was much greater clarity; their views and arguments were aligned: ‘no’ to Berisha’s personal power and its institutionalization. Otherwise, there will no longer be free elections in Albania. Democracy will be buried before it has even been properly established. “What happened has, in practice, deprived parliament of its legitimacy as a legislative body. What was done on Thursday amounted to an admission that parliament is incapable and has been completely exhausted. “We are not against referendums as a form of direct democracy. As early as 10 January of this year, in our Party’s political objectives, the Socialist Party proposed that the Constitution be given priority for approval by Parliament and that the people’s approval then be sought on its most fundamental issues. This demand was also approved at the Party’s National Conference, held on 7–8 February this year. Therefore, we cannot be accused of being against referendums in general, or even against a referendum on the Constitution. “But both in the case of the proposed Constituent Assembly, which in our view should be elected by the people, and in the case of the referendum now being proposed, we insist as a condition that parliament first discuss and approve the Constitution, article by article, by a two-thirds majority. “By demanding this, we show respect for parliament, the highest legislative body elected by the people, and insist on constitutional legality. We also show respect for the people, because we do not want them to be deceived by being dragged to the polls to vote en bloc ‘yes’ to all 130 articles of the Constitution. The deception has already begun. One need only look at what RTV is doing to understand this. We oppose manipulating the people, not because we do not want a constitution, but because we want a good constitution for all Albanians. “PD leaders have now begun saying in their propaganda that ‘the draft Constitution is modern, the same as those of democratic countries, and even the best among the countries of the East.’ “We do not deny everything contained in this draft Constitution. It does contain provisions that truly meet European standards and were approved by consensus by the commission drafting the draft Constitution, whose members represented many political forces. “But the draft also contains several issues, several articles, that are truly the work of the PD. These include those concerning the powers of the President of the Republic and, above all, the place and role of the judicial bodies. In this regard, however, we bear in mind the popular saying that ‘we will accept only a few drops of kerosene to make the sweetest sugar colorless.’ For the President lays his hand directly on legislative, executive, and judicial power, rendering the separation of powers fictitious. “This is where we must look for the key to the ‘coup,’ the circumvention of parliament in approving the Constitution. In this sense, the referendum, presented by some as democratic and as Berisha wants and intends to implement it, is a step that claims to democratize but would institutionalize his personal power. In this context, the President’s powers cannot be considered normal. “Therefore, we oppose, first, the unconstitutional procedure for approving the Constitution,” Servet Pëllumbi continued. “Playing games with procedures is no accident. Behind this stands the adoption of a constitution with ‘micro-seeds’ of dictatorship within it. Second, we oppose those articles, those ‘drops of kerosene’ that give an anti-democratic character to the version of the Constitution presented. In other words, we want the people to express their view on the ‘constitution’ itself, not merely on whether they want a constitution or not. “Third, we reject, with abundant evidence, the accusations made against us that ‘the opposition does not want the Constitution,’ that ‘it does not want Albania to have a Constitution, does not want a referendum, and is afraid of the people.’ We have been and remain the ones most interested in the Constitution. To begin the constitutional process, we made parliamentary understanding a factor in July 1994 and requested Inter... [the rest is cut off/unclear]. ... [continues on page 3]

- The PD deputies, chess pieces in Berisha’s political game. Once again, the PD parliamentary group, intoxicated with power, has become a marionette in Berisha’s hands. Within a few days, when the presidential version of the referendum for approving the Constitution was put on parliament’s table, the deputies once again faced a message sent to them by the head of state. “Enthusiastic” about his message addressed to the people, “finally convinced” by the echo of RTV’s news reports, finally “in love.” ... [section unclear] It would take only a few days after the accelerated approval of the “Law on Referendums” for the purpose of its speedy passage to become apparent. (Continued on page 3)

The President does not consider it reasonable to discuss and approve the Constitution in parliament first Yesterday morning President Berisha held a press conference for various Albanian and foreign media outlets. The main issues on the agenda were: 1) the new Constitution, closely linked to the referendum, one of the hottest topics in last week’s parliamentary debate; 2) Albania–Greece relations; and 3) the position of Albanians in the elections in Macedonia. Asked about the similarity between approving the Constitution by referendum in Russia under Yeltsin and in Albania, President Berisha replied that such a similarity existed. However, he stressed that the difference was very great. According to him, Yeltsin’s move was made to increase the president’s powers. “I fully agree with his action,” the President said. But this action was in the interests of Russia and beyond. In Albania, by contrast, this Constitution is being submitted to the people without increasing the president’s powers. Another difference, according to him, is that Yeltsin threatened and has a Zhirinovsky bloc, whereas here there is no such bloc, nor any element indicating that the minority agrees with the majority. He described the draft Constitution as one of the best drafts, containing democratic laws tested in all the difficult circumstances encountered on Albania’s path toward major economic changes. He said this Constitution draws on the most advanced European experience and is based on pluralism, freedom of belief, etc. According to him, today’s debate will seem absurd and ridiculous in the future. “I don’t think it is at all so...” [the final section is unclear] (Continued on page 3)

SOCIALISTS OPPOSE A CONSTITUTION THAT BURIES DEMOCRACY