Shkelzen Gashi, one of Vetevendosje co-founders, alongside Albin Kurti, speaks about its growth during elections, its past mistakes and their being ill prepared to govern, reports Kosovo 2.O.
In late 2004, a donkey was brought before Kosovo’s government building, and on it a banner reading “vote for me.” Three youngsters were leading the compliant donkey closer and closer to the building. There they would later express their severe opposition towards local politicians, as well as the first articulated form of opposition against the international community stationed in Kosovo.
The three youngsters were Albin Kurti, Glauk Konjufca and Shkelzen Gashi. A year later the three would establish the political movement called Levizja Vetëvendosje (Movement for Self-Determination) or VV as it is often known. Kurti would become the leader of the movement up until 2015, and he would manage to introduce it to the Kosovo Assembly for the first time in 2010. Konjufca would be vice-president of the Assembly in two legislatures.
By this time, Shkelzen Gashi had already distanced himself from Vetevendosje, before the movement became a part of Kosovo’s institutions.
He was critical of the way Vetevendosje functioned, making him a target of activists who were revolted by his public statements regarding VV. He says that the lack of financial accountability on the organization’s part, the rise of their cult leader and their insistence on certain political ideas with no regard to alternatives, are what made him leave.
See at: http://kosovotwopointzero.com/en/shkelzen-gashi-vv-comes-power-maybe-kurti-will-remain-uncorrupt/
