"Gazeta Shqiptare", "Shekulli", "Tema", "Korrieri", "Albania', "Koha Jone, "RD', "ZP", "Panorama", "Shqip", "Metropol", "Standard", "Tirana Observer", "Republika", "Telegraf", "Tirana Observer"


ELECTORAL ISSUES

Poll gives DP 72 seats in new parliament

The Gani Bobi Institute published yesterday in Klan TV their last survey before Election Day. According to them, the Democratic Party (DP) will win the elections by 8% points over the Socialist Party (SP) while the Socialist Movement for Integration (SMI) has 3.1% and G99 has 2.3%. Thus, the DP, according to the poll, will get 72 MPs, the SP 62, SMI 5 and G99 1. In Tirana, the DP will get 16 MPs, SP 13, SMI 2 and G99 one. In Shkodra, the DP will get 7 MPs and SP 4; in Lezha the DP will get 4 and the SP 3; in Dibra, the DP will get 4 and the SP 2; in Durrës the DP will get 8 and the SP 5; in Kukës the DP will get 3 and the SP 1; in Korça the DP will get 7 and the SP 5; in Elbasan, the  DP will get 8 and the SP 6; in Berat, the SP will get  4 and 2 each for the DP and SMI; in Gjirokastra, the SP will get 4 and the DP 1; in Vlora, the SP will get 7 and the DP 5 and in Fier, the SP will get 8, the DP 7 and the SMI 1.

Ministry says over 256,000 people without passport did not apply for ID card

The Ministry of Interior announced yesterday that it had provided the Central Election Commission (CEC) and political parties with the list of people who have applied for the ID card, the list of those who have received it, and the list of people without passport that have not applied for the card. The Ministry’s spokesperson said the list of people that should collect their ID card is updated on the Ministry’s webpage. According to the data, 256,794 people have neither a passport nor an ID card, which makes their voting impossible, while some other 300,000 people have their ID card ready, but had not collected it. Some 1,446,000 people applied for the ID card.

CEC approves 506 voting centres in private properties

The CEC approved yesterday the creation of 506 voting centres in private properties that have been described by the Opposition as ‘inappropriate’
because of the ownership of the buildings and their location. The SP legal representative in the CEC, Genc Gjoçaj, contested yesterday the decision to establish voting centres in private properties, claiming that they are owned by DP supporters. The CEC Chair, Arben Ristani, asked the CEc administration to present updated information on the preparation of the elections within 24 hours. The CEC members also debated those candidates who continue to keep government positions. Gjokutaj warned that their mandate will be void if these individuals do not resign from their current posts.

Former President not afraid to face lawsuits against him

The former President and head of the Coalition for a Clean Parliament, Alfred Moisiu, said yesterday that he was ready to face lawsuits against him filed by several candidates, who were considered by his Coalition as ‘undignified’ to become MPs. He said yesterday that their assessment was based on a series of previously-set criteria on a sample of 140 candidates.
He said he did not deal with the lists himself and was not part of the commission that did the evaluation, as he was only its honorary Chair. In related news, one of the candidates on the “black list”, Vangjel Tavo of the SP, presented filed a complaint against Moisiu with the Tirana District Court, in the same way that the SP candidate, Asllan Dogjani, did two days ago. A Republican Party (RP) candidate in Berat region and president of the private UFO University, Astrit Veliaj, filed a lawsuit against the Coalition and Moisiu, asked for 200,000 Euros in compensation.

SMI has key role on who forms new government

Today’s newspapers carry a summary of an analysis of next Sunday’s elections by the President of the European Strategic Intelligence and Security Centre (ESISC), Claude Moniquet. He wrote: “Although the two main parties favoured by the mode of the election are neck and neck several weeks ahead of the elections, it would appear from a reading of the latest polls that the DP could find itself unable to form a government coalition with the Freedom Pole. In fact, it would not gather enough votes. The SP and the DP might decide to go to power together. Nevertheless, that scenario seems to be unlikely so far due to the strong opposition that occurred between the two parties during the campaign. Now the alternative could emerge from a coalition consisting of the SP of Edi Rama and the SMI of former Prime Minister Ilir Meta. If that were the case, this would likely be the end of the Berisha era and, ironically, the coming of change for Albania. No matter which of these scenarios will play out after the elections, one thing looks certain, that the SMI has a key role to play on who forms the new government.

Prime Minister inspects Vlora’s Thermo Power Plant

Prime Minister Sali Berisha met voters in Vlora and inspected the work on the Thermo Power Plant being built in the city. The Italian Ambassador, Saba D’Elia, was present in the inspection and spoke about the good co-operation between the Italians and Albanians. He said that the plant was being built with the best western standards as well as the highest respect for environmental safety. The Prime Minister said that this was one of the major project accomplished in the last few years. He said that the plant will improve the energy situation in the country, added that this project boosts the tourist and industrial potential of Vlora. He said that the best European standards used for the plant guaranteed the maximum respect for the environment. “We are going towards Europe and we cannot go there if we do not apply and respect European standards for the protection of the environment”, he said.

Rama warns of penal procedure for those that pressure on voting

The Chair of the SP, Edi Rama, met with voters in Korça and warned that a great wave of change was coming. He said that twenty days ago they have given the signals for wanting the change and now that signal had spread all over the country. He said that this was not just a simple battle of changing one party with another, but rather it was a battle that will close one chapter and open up a new era. He called upon all senior officials in public administration at the central and local level to avoid pressurizing their staff to vote for the DP led coalition as they will “meet with the justice if they do so”.

Meta says he is willing to collaborate with SP

The SMI Chair, Ilir Meta, said yesterday that he hopes that the SP Chair, Edi Rama, reflects before 28 June. He said that they were willing to co-operate with the SP, adding that he was certain this co-operation will be realized before 28 June and after 29 June, because the SMI programme meant integration for everyone, including Edi Rama. He said that the left, with the exclusion philosophy, does not win anything and does not serve Albania.
He said that SMI was the only party that had a programme with clear concepts, formula and figures. He said that this programme will be implemented because political parties in Albania do not have any other programmes. 

SDP: Meta’s invitation is demagogy

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) Chair, Skënder Gjinushi, described Ilir Meta’s invitation for a union of the left as ‘demagogy’. He said Meta’s invitation was a “desperate tactic” made because there was nothing else left to do. He said that this move would save only Meta, who has now realized that the voters will not make the same mistake they did in 2005 when, by voting Meta, they voted Berisha and caused the loss of the left. He said that if Meta and Nano did not want the left to be split, they would have met one week before the 2005 elections and Berisha would not be in office. The elections, according to him, have been announced and the system does not allow late changes.

Politicians’ profiles by “Forbidden Zone” to be aired by Vizion Plus

The profiles of Sali Berisha, Edi Rama and Ilir Meta, which were not allowed to be broadcasted on Klan TV, will be aired starting tonight on Vizion Plus.
The profiles prepared by well-known journalist, Andi Bushati, bring a full political profile of all three leaders along with the less known part of their careers, details of their political lives, their failures and successes. Bushati’s Forbidden Zone was aired every Monday in Klan TV for more than three years until Bushati resigned. Reportedly, the reason for his resignation was the blocking of these three shows by the owner of Klan TV Aleksandër Frangaj.


RULE OF LAW

High Court returns Vlora judges to duty

The High Court decided yesterday to return the former head of the Vlora Court of Appeals, Gjinovefa Gaba, to duty, as well as two other judges – Vasil Hanxhari and Sokol Ngresi – of the same court, thus rejecting the previous decisions of the High Council of Justice and the President that dismissed her for harming the judiciary’s image and integrity.


REGIONAL/INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Presidents of four Balkan countries meet in Vlora

Presidents Gjorge Ivanov, Fatmir Sejdiu, Filip Vujanovic, and Bamir Topi met on Tuesday in Vlora to discuss regional issues. All four assessed the meeting as a crucial one in further improving the relationship between Balkan countries. They also had the chance to hold bilateral meetings. It is reported that they talked about the improving of the image of the whole region and different ways of cooperating, especially towards EU integration.



ECONOMY

Council of Ministers passes 2008 Factual Budget

The Government passed last night the 2008 Factual State Budget, with the Prime Minister declared that this budget transformed Albania into a construction site. According to him, during 2008, the Government invested in infrastructure double what was invested by any other government in the continent. He assured citizens that the legalization process will not stop.
He also asked the Ministry of Finance to present the decision for the activation of secure bonds for the payment of the legalization value up to 80%. He said that this decision should be sent to the Council of Ministers before next Wednesday. He said that this decision will enable citizens to pay 80% of the legalization value through the secure bonds.