Jacobson: I didn’t create the ruling coalition (Zeri)
The United States Ambassador to Kosovo, Tracey Ann Jacobson, in an interview for the paper, said that she had not interfered in the formation of the ruling coalition between the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) and Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK). Jacobson said she had only been an observer and denied that she had rejected the inclusion of the Vetevendosje Movement in the government. Jacobson said the new government should appoint credible people to the public procurement sector, which she believed to be among the most corrupt sectors. Regarding the special court on war crimes allegations, Jacobson said that everyone in Kosovo, including politicians, must obey the judiciary. She said the United States supports the transition of the Kosovo Security Force into the Kosovo Armed Forces. Jacobson also argued that combating religious extremism should be among the priorities of the new government.
Kurti: This government won’t complete its mandate (Zeri)
Albin Kurti, the leader of the Vetevendosje Movement, said on Sunday that if Kosovo continues to have representatives such as Hashim Thaci [Deputy Prime Minister], Kadri Veseli [Speaker of Parliament] and Aleksandar Jablanovic [Minister of Communities and Returns], then the people of Kosovo will end up emigrating, becoming criminals or supporting religious extremism. During the meeting of the Vetevendosje General Council, Kurti said the current government will not complete its mandate, “because extreme poverty will result in protests by the people”.
Ruling coalition depends on LDK internal elections (Tribuna)
In a front-page story, the paper states that the continuance of the ruling coalition between the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) depends on internal elections in LDK, which will be held in the spring of next year. According to the paper, if LDK leader Isa Mustafa, who is also Prime Minister of Kosovo, fails to get reelected as party leader, this would jeopardize the ruling coalition. Some political analysts believe that senior LDK officials, who were not pleased with the coalition with PDK, will do everything in their power to prevent Mustafa from getting reelected.
