The Socialist Party calls on President Berisha not to sign that unconstitutional law which openly violates political freedoms and human rights - From the discussions in Parliament - Yesterday Parliament performed the final act of political revenge by voting for a law solely to keep FATOS NANO in prison

Although the session had not yet begun, the situation was tense. The previous day’s approval of placing on the agenda the draft law intended to put bars on the prison gate of the chairman of the PS, deputy Fatos Nano, brought new developments in the position of the Socialist parliamentary group. In order to make clear the efforts to prevent Parliament from falling into the trap that would greatly damage the image of Albania, newly admitted to the Council of Europe. Europe. On behalf of the parliamentary group, a meeting was requested with government representatives to clarify… (Continued on page 3) This is not the first time that Parliament, before closing its annual session, has faced imposed situations, also violating its basic rules of procedure, in order to pass draft laws and amendments directly dictated by the Head of the executive power, the President. This proves that the practice of concentrating all powers in one person, and imposing upon the legislative and judicial powers, is now developing in unprecedented ways for a democratic society. Numerous facts, including those from recent times following Albania’s acceptance as a full member of the Assembly of the Council of Europe, speak not of an expansion of democratic space—which would have been natural and expected by the Albanian electorate—but of restrictions on it, to a critical limit. Within two days, on 26 and 27 July, through the proposed draft laws, the heads of state decided to harden their stance toward the socialist opposition and legally deprive the Chairman of the PS, deputy Fatos Nano, of every possibility of seeking justice. The essence of the proposed changes, as is now becoming clear, is to use the parliamentary majority once again as a lever to prevent the Court of Cassation from reconsidering the Court of Appeal’s decision of 21 July. The instigators, who have nothing to do with democracy, are trying in this case, as in others, to come out clean and escape legal responsibility by shifting it onto the Mexsi government and the PD parliamentary majority. But the unbridled arrogance of the highest PD officials, and directly of President Berisha, can no longer be concealed: they are putting Parliament to work to carry out political revenge and serve narrow party interests, of… (Continued on page 2)

Speech delivered yesterday in Parliament by PS Deputy Chairman Servet Pëllumbi its annual session, has faced imposed situations, violating even concentrating all powers [text incomplete] legally deprives 21 July. The instigator, who has [text cut off]

The legislative initiative presented yesterday in Parliament was falsified! – There is no record in the Ministry of Justice registry of the draft law submitted to the Government. – Frashëri to the Socialists: I make proposals to the Government verbally too (?) While the Socialists—after the opening of yesterday’s plenary session—spent two hours trying to contact the Minister of Justice, Hektor Frashëri, the announced scandal concerning the draft law submitted to Parliament by the Albanian government for expedited consideration broke spectacularly in the small room where the Socialist group meets. Hektor Frashëri, Minister of Justice, appointed to this post after Berisha’s departure from F. Mulleti’s government, was immediately faced with numerous questions from Socialist deputies. Nevertheless, these all came down to one persistent issue: the provision concerning Article 2 of the law amending the penal code in force. According to him, the word “one”—two letters for persons convicted of a criminal offence—does not express a number. “In fact, the word ‘one’ is not a numeral; one, two, three is a signal, I don’t know what this is called… it is not the number one-one; that is what matters,” Frashëri told the Socialist deputies. “This ‘one’ has been misinterpreted, bringing out of prison people who have been convicted of one offence and who are not entitled to benefit, while others remain in prison,” Frashëri continued. But his confused speech would later turn into a phase that underscored the authorities’ involvement in the scandal. Asked who had submitted the draft law to the Government, Frashëri said that he had drafted it on the basis of his own consultations, relying on the law. All the statements concerning its violations in the cases… …regarding the procedure for drafting this bill, together with the cases of misinterpretation of the law being promoted, Frashëri said the documents were at the Ministry, then, after hesitating, added that they were at the Council of Ministers. The Socialist deputies asked Minister Frashëri to make the draft law’s file available to them. But Frashëri refused, saying, “I’m busy.” Then, under the law on constitutional provisions guaranteeing their rights, the Socialists formed a group of three deputies to check the records at the Council of Ministers and the Ministry of Justice. After more than half an hour, the deputies and the deputy chairman of the Socialist group, Fehmi Abdiu, would say that Me- (Continued on page 2)

Speech by MP Ilir Meta Mr. Speaker, members of Parliament. Today’s session and this Bill show that, after evading and hollowing out the institutions, we are now moving on to eliminating them in order to institutionalize in power a corrupt junta headed by Sali Berisha.

With the new Criminal Code and the new Code of Criminal Procedure Speech by MP Gramoz Ruçi Honourable members of Parliament Not even two months had passed before Parliament called them into question. With these amendments to the New Criminal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure, you added your first request to the Council of Europe to put us on trial—for the fraud and disloyalty of certain segments of Albanian institutions, actions that the Albanian people have summed up in the wise popular saying: “You crossed the river, now I’ll make you a … l’un.” Therefore, although it is our wish, we are compelled by your actions to inform you that we will inform … (Continued on page 3)

Speech by MP Shaqir Vukaj During these three and a half years… During these three and a half years, this Parliament has done a lot of good work, but it has also done some bad, or very bad, things. The latter are remembered more: suspicious people and their Albanianization, who, as they have begun to emerge openly, stand above the …, creating an odour of crime. Mr. Speaker. Since I am facing you, you … suspicious and wasteful people, the …, creating an odour of crime. … about morality […] I have seen [them] violate the rules when presiding over sessions to approve antidemocratic and unconstitutional laws. Some of them were indeed troubled, their voices failed them, but … (Continued on page 2)

Only new elections can put an end to antidemocratic violations and establish understanding among Albanians

* Only PD deputies voted for this law * The file for the European Court of