ABSTRACT
Albania’s local elections, held on 20 October 1996, were seen as a major test for the Democratic Party and the opposition, especially the Socialist Party. The European Commission’s annual survey of public opinion in Central and East European countries, showed that in November 1996 Albanians remained very satisfied with the development of democracy and human rights in their country and strongly supported the development of a market economy. The fierce rivalry between the Democratic Party and the Socialist Party reflected the old, regional divisions within Albanian society. The revolt seriously shook the public’s confidence in Albania’s political, economic, and social system and derailed the country’s transition to democracy. The campaign was devoid of debate or new issues: Berisha waged a determined campaign for political survival, blaming the Socialists for the armed uprising and the subsequent anarchy and warning that the revolt jeopardized Albania’s experiment in democracy and market economy.
