“The election law was not understood as begging and the elections in our city should be called irregular and…” / “Shkumini” newspaper of 1921, when the elections in Elbasan were repeated

Dashnor Kaloçi

Memorie.al publishes the unknown history of the electoral campaign of the first parliamentary elections in Albania at the beginning of 1921, where in some prefectures there were major problems, both in terms of the election law that was not properly understood by voters, and from the numerous irregularities and manipulations made by the two main political parties of that time, which, even by force of arms, fought to bring out their candidates for the National Council as winners. Unknown articles of the newspaper “SHKUMINI”, with director Filip Papajani published in the city of Elbasan, (where at the top of its front page was written: ‘Weekly Political and Literary Newspapers. Protects Freedom and True Unity’), under the title “Election Law, was not understood as begging”, shows how the elections in the city of Elbasan were considered irregular and repeated, both by the election law and by the two main political parties that made very dissimilar propaganda and dangerous for the homeland”! An Albanian story that is repeated point by point even today after 100 years, both in form and content…?!

“A law so clear in a small Albania that throwing an apple on one side comes out on the other, this election law was not implemented on all sides in the same way. Therefore, it was deemed necessary for the elections that took place a few days ago here in the city to be called irregular and to be held in the same way as they are being held in other Prefectures.

“On this occasion, a fierce and unpopular propaganda was launched by both parties seeking to secure a majority of votes for their petty candidates who want to run for the National Council.”

This is what is written, among other things, in the main article of the newspaper “SHKUMINI” dated February 12, 1921, which was published in the city of Elbasan with director Filip Papajani, regarding the electoral campaign and the elections for the first Albanian parliament that would open on 21 April of that year.

As we will see from the articles of the newspaper in question that Memorie.al publishes for the first time in part, that in the first elections held in the city of Elbasan 100 years ago, many irregularities and problems were observed, as during “On this occasion, a fierce and unpopular propaganda was launched by both parties seeking to secure a majority of votes for their petty candidates who want to run for the National Council”, as well as during the voting, which were considered irregular, “because the election law was not understood as begging and to be practiced in the same way as it is being done in other Prefectures”, or because in some areas, such as in Polraz i Librazhd it was also used the force of weapons as pressure on voters ?! An Albanian story that seems to be repeated point by point, even today after 100 years, both in form and content?!

The main article of the newspaper “SHKUMINI” of Elbasan, on February 11, 1921

                                         ELECTION LAW

was not understood as begging

A law so clear in a small Albania that throwing an apple in one side turns out to be the other, this election law was not applied in all directions in one way.

Therefore, it was deemed necessary for the elections that took place a few days ago here in the city to be called irregular and to be held in the same way as they are being held in other Prefectures.

On this occasion, a fierce and unpopular propaganda was launched by both parties seeking to secure a majority of votes for their petty candidates who want to run for the National Council.

Here in Elbasan as it is known there are two parties.

These parties, although neither has come to the square, both work under the rug to secure a second representative.

Today, except for Mr. Beg Balla, there is no candidate, neither with program nor without program.

No one will jeopardize the fame of his name without proving that he will necessarily emerge victorious.

After the special news, which we have not been able to fully confirm, a very dissimilar and dangerous propaganda is being made in the provinces.

Irresponsible people who are charged with propaganda at the expense of each party, are crossing the line that separates them…!

“SHKUMINI” newspaper: Elections in Polis, by force of arms

In the electoral campaign and the first parliamentary elections that took place in Albania in the spring of 1921, in addition to many Prefectures where peaceful and trouble-free elections took place, there were other provinces, where they took place irregularly. There were even conflicts in some polling stations in remote villages, where weapons were used. One of these conflicts took place in the village of Polis in the Prefecture of Elbasan, where there was almost no bloodshed between the two tribes of that village due to the voting. Regarding this event in its issue of March 4, 1921, among others, the newspaper “Shkumini” of Elbasan wrote:

“Elections in Polis. On the 20th of this month, the commission was sent from here to conduct the elections in the province of Slope, went to the village of Polis, which is the first center of that province, and called on the people to gather in the mosque. That day, as time had passed, Zenun Cekani’s neighborhood voted.

Tomorrow, Dick Muzhaqi with his leadership (his supporters. Our note) is close to 100 souls to vote. But the mayor of the village (the elder) Jonuz Zharri, did not come to the mosque anymore and sent word that none of those who had gathered to vote would cast their votes, otherwise he would fall with a rifle, and asked that the votes of Cekan’s party without being sung at all.

Dik Muzhaqi and his party said that yesterday they voted, and today we will vote. As the commission saw that there would be bloodshed, it decided to burn the votes and left to vote for the second center. We add that the two tribes, Cekani and Muzhaqi, are bloody with each other and are in enmity “. /Memorie.al