May 26 of this year comes with a great appeal: do not tamper with the people’s vote! Otherwise, what happened during the last three months in Albania will happen again. May 26 last year was the hope of Albanians for a new era on the path to the development of democracy. That day came after four years of Democratic Party government. Four years of its rule were enough to convince the people whether it had governed Albania well or badly. It was the sovereign’s right to give it a “grade” with a free vote. And the sovereign speaks once every four years. The day for him to speak was May 26 last year. But the elections of May 26 last year also had another great significance. For a serious party in a democratic society, not only the way it governs the country matters, but also the way it enters the political contest for power and how it leaves it. In other words, the elections of May 26 last year were an opportunity to see how the peaceful transfer of power could be achieved in Albania’s new democratic society. In 1992, the Socialist Party carried out the act of moving into opposition with dignity. It accepted the election result and wished the Democratic Party success in governing the country. Would this first opposition party be capable of doing the same? This was the greatest significance of the elections of May 26 last year. Unfortunately, none of this happened. The people, the sovereign, were not allowed to freely express their verdict in the elections. They were intimidated, threatened and subjected to violence throughout the election campaign, especially on election day. Thus, the people were not allowed to give their “grade” to the country’s political parties, both the party that had held power and those in opposition. The DP violated the people’s free will, showing that it was incapable of accepting their verdict. This showed that the party was not democratic, as it claimed, and that it would have grave consequences for Albanian society. The DP’s megalomania led not only to the violation of the elections, but also to absurd greed, as it declared itself the winner of 90 percent of the Albanian parliament. From that moment on, the foundations of Albanian democratic society were undermined. Those mines would one day explode. The conflict between the people’s verdict and the DP’s illegitimate power was expressed very clearly in the popular revolt, which went so far as to take up arms to oppose the government. Now all Albanians understand clearly that what happened in Albania over the last three months has its roots in the violation of May 26. The rest—the pyramid schemes, corruption, etc.—were consequences of the violation of May 26. The great lesson from what happened is this: Do not tamper with the people’s verdict! The people are the only sovereign, and they will not allow this sovereignty to be trampled underfoot. If such a thing happens again, there will be another revolt, another crisis, and Albania will never have peace. It is time to bear this well in mind, because the signs suggest that May 26 last year could be repeated on June 29 this year. Berisha’s statements that “the elections will be free, as on 26/5” are a furious mockery of the people’s anger. This shows that Berisha has learned no lessons. Therefore, vigilance is necessary.

“I am convinced that the strength of the people, the strength of new policies and of new political forces that want to uproot [?] totalitarianism, violence and people’s subjugation to the state once and for all, and to affirm the individuality, identity, freedom and fundamental rights of every free citizen in this country, will make it possible for May 26 or 28 in Albania, like the other black dates in Albania’s history when masses of people clashed, driven by the adventures of politicians and those in power, never to happen again” Page 3

will never happen again” Page 3 Cërrik, a fortified city Citizens: “We will not lay down our arms until Berisha leaves” Page 5