The chairman of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, Memli Krasniqi says that the Kurti Government in the first year in power has shown a lack of competence, knowledge and vision.

The opposition leader urges Prime Minister Kurti to focus on governance and not on new elections.

He blames the head of government for the lack of a solution to the energy crisis and says he should take the dialogue with Serbia more seriously.

Meanwhile, he warns of the formation of the shadow government of the PDK at the end of February.

Krasniqi says for KosovaPress that the Kurti Government has not done even three important works during 2021.

"We were badly surprised by the government's lack of competence. There were expectations that at least the ministers would have more knowledge and vision for the areas entrusted to them, but this did not happen. I'm sorry that this year is closing without having the opportunity to count on at least three important jobs that this government has done. If we really and objectively analyze the work of the government during this year, both internally and especially externally, there has been no positive progress. We had big trouble with the pandemic. "Only this year we have had two big waves that have taken many lives and that have been characterized by mismanagement by institutions," says Krasniqi.

"We have had troubles in foreign policy, today Kosovo has a new recognition and has not even applied for membership in international organizations. We have had degradation of our relations in the region and especially with Albania which is meaningless and unacceptable. But also a degradation of our relations with some of Kosovo's key partners such as the US and some of the key EU countries. Realistically, everything that has defined this year is that instead of having an increase in the welfare of the citizens, we had an increase in prices and an increase in problems, which with a different approach would be small. So far they have left no room for any positive development with this government. "The lack of competence, knowledge but also the governing vision is worrying", he adds.

In particular, according to him, the executive is to blame for the lack of resolution of the energy crisis.

"It's the government's fault for the lack of a solution to the crisis and for the negligence they have dealt with this issue.

I do not want to be alarming, but we still have reached the worst part of this crisis.

As temperatures decrease it is normal for consumption to increase and domestic production is going down due to the exit of other blocks as well.

"While market prices are enormous, the financial capacity to cover imports does not seem to exist and consequently this will create a more severe crisis than the one we experienced in December," Krasniqi said.

Regarding the possibilities of new elections this year, the PDK leader says that the focus of Prime Minister Kurti should be on the government and not on the ballot boxes. But this, according to him, does not mean that the PDK is not ready for new elections.

"It seems that we have held elections in Kosovo so often, that this topic that there will be elections again has become quite natural even when it is at the level of speculation. There have been other instances in the past when it has been said that there will be elections this month, or season, but they have not been held. So I believe the current focus of government should be on governance and not elections. Because we believe that there should be no change of government, how much there should be a change of mentality and approach to governance. This by no means means that we are not ready for elections, obviously serious political parties are always ready to go to the polls. "We have proved this, because we have usually had extraordinary elections that are held for no more than 45 days", he emphasizes.

Krasniqi says that Prime Minister Kurti should not shirk his responsibilities in relation to the dialogue with Serbia.

However, as he says, dialogue should not be crucial for Kosovo governments.

In addition, the opposition leader urges the prime minister to be more serious in dialogue and reaching a comprehensive agreement.

"To be successful in dialogue, the government must be much more serious than has been shown so far. The past months have been months lost, there have been two meetings that have been used for political 'show' and for domestic consumption and not to achieve the goals of the dialogue. The focus of the Prime Minister and the Government should be on reaching a final agreement, but the truth is that this year, at least the first part of the year, there is no real space to do something concrete as Serbia also has elections in early April, until then I do not expect any initiative from the mediator ", says Krasniqi.

"The stalemate in the dialogue has had its impact on the longevity of governments in the past as well.

But I believe that Prime Minister Kurti should not shy away from this responsibility, as he has the most comfortable position that previous governments have had.

He has a dominant majority in the Assembly, has absolute power in all the levers of government, controls the government, has closeness and compliance with the president and normally all that remains is to be responsible and serious to reach an agreement.

It is impossible to speculate and it should not be thought that dialogue is crucial for our governments, because for them the citizens must decide, as they have decided ", adds Krasniqi.

The chairman of the PDK has his reservations regarding the possibility of Kosovo's inclusion in the Open Balkans.

He says that Kosovo can not be part of this initiative, until it has not been equal from the beginning.

"We can not be part of a table where we have not been equal from the beginning.

The lack of clarity on an equality of the parties obviously hinders the realization of this process.

If the Open Balkans is intended for the six Western Balkan states then the six states should have been part of the initiative from start to finish, including the drafting of rules.

It is not the same to sit at the table from the beginning and cool down halfway.

There is a need for a re-thinking of this project, which first of all in the perspective of Kosovo to be equal ", declared Krasniqi.

Regarding the party reforms, Krasniqi says that they are well on their way to concluding the platform for which he was elected head of the PDK. He says that the shadow government will be formed at the end of February.

"Very soon we will take other steps, which I have part of the platform with which I have sought the trust of colleagues when I am elected president.

So the establishment of the cabinet for good governance, which will be a model of shadow governance that we did many years ago as PDK when we were in opposition 2005-2007.

Consolidate an institute for studies and analysis which will be close to PDK, but not a structural part and gather around itself experts and academics to help the work of PDK and all our bodies.

"There will be a continuation of the approach we have to change the opposition model we have in Kosovo," he concluded.

Krasniqi was elected chairman of the PDK in July 2021. With him at the helm, the PDK had a good result in local elections, winning several municipalities.

/ Telegraphy /