Brussels refutes the data published in Tirana Director of Eurobarometer, Karl Hans Rajf: The amount of information we have collected does not justify talking about the situation of the political parties at the time when the poll was conducted, let alone making any predictions. This is the first time we have collaborated with this department, and the incident we are discussing does not increase the chances of collaborating again. Page 2

Editorial The closer we get to the announcement of the campaign for the upcoming parliamentary elections, the more an entire arsenal of weapons is taking up space on the Albanian political scene. There is talk of scenarios and fronts, of blind and silver bullets, of attack and defense. In this war arena, the PD and its leadership have dug in somewhere deep in the trenches and are firing incessantly at the entire opposition, especially the Socialist Party. This situation resembles the bunkerization we have criticized so much. The culmination of this bunkerization of Albanian politics was set in recent days by President Berisha himself, when he invented the so-called “red front,” which apparently will be the main target of all his attacks on the opposition in the campaign we have practically already entered. Is there really a red, black, or blue front in Albania today? No serious political analysis leads to the conclusion that such a front exists even figuratively. The situation is completely different from that of four years ago, when there was only an anti-communist front, which led the PD to victory on March 22. Today, the political situation in Albania has flowed into waters other than those desired by Berisha and his party. In particular, the new electoral law, which constitutes a blatant violation of democratic norms, has created an unprecedented political situation—13 parties representing the entire spectrum of Albanian politics are almost united against the PD’s positions, leaving this party isolated in this ... Continued on Page 2

Sali Berisha and his clan have lost the game The statement by the leadership of the PS, published in “Zëri i Popullit” on 11 February 1996, clearly expressing that the PS will fulfil its political commitments through free elections, has shaken the PD Steering Headquarters and the presidential clan to their foundations. Panicked by the prospect of defeat, they completely unmasked themselves. The statement by the President’s spokesperson, and especially that by the PD leadership, of which he himself is also a member, are characterized by fury at the superiority of the Socialist Party’s alternatives, panic over certain defeat, political pathology, and the threatening style of Berisha and his corrupt clan. But they go even further: they threaten (laying bare their plot) and warn of neo-fascist actions against the opposition, against political pluralism, against democracy. Page 3

About the elections On 13.02.1996, the leadership of the Socialist Party held a seminar with the party chairpersons of the districts on organizing and conducting the election campaign. General Secretary Gramoz Ruçi opened the seminar, explaining the objectives to be achieved through it. This seminar will be followed by other seminars and meetings. The Head of the Political Information Department, MP Kastriot Islami, explaining the electoral law for the elections, highlighted the advantages of this amended law and the elements ... ... of the current law. He explained all the precautionary measures that must be taken to prevent manipulation and democratically protect the free vote and the law. MP Ylli Bufi, explaining the PS’s organizational program for the upcoming elections, first focused on the facts and strategy for conducting the election campaign. He focused mainly on the area-based organization of the election campaign, emphasizing the elements of the process, such as socio-political and electoral analysis, objectives and tasks, and ... Continued on Page 4

In response to our journalist’s question about whether or not to attend the Congress of the PS of Serbia, the Spokesperson of the Socialist Party of Albania replied: Some newspaper has speculated that the PS will send a delegation to the Congress of the PS of Serbia, but this speculation is not true. The PS of Albania has received an invitation, but none of its representatives will be sent to attend that Congress. This is because the PS of Serbia, as the party in power, is responsible for repression against the Albanian population in Kosovo and does not accept the realistic proposals of the international community for a peaceful resolution of the Albanian question. The PS of Albania will hold its Second Congress on 23 March, and the Socialist Party of Serbia is not on the list of invitees from Europe to this forum.

On the 17th, Saturday, at 10:00, a meeting will be held in the hall of the General Steering Committee of the Socialist Party. It concerns local government. All chairpersons of local government commissions in the districts, municipalities, and communes will attend. Local Government Commission