Vetevendosje defector and Pristina Mayor Shpend Ahmeti has been elected the new leader of the Social Democratic Party – a party formed back in the 1990s, which has enjoyed little success since then.
The Mayor of Pristina, Shpend Ahmeti, on Wednesday became the new leader of the Social Democratic Party, PSD, which he and a number of other MPs joined after leaving the main opposition Vetevendosje party.
Vetevendosje has reacted to the recent resignation of Pristina Mayor Shpend Ahmeti from the party saying it was disappointed with the decision. “We thank Shpend Ahmeti for his contribution to our victories and naturally we expect him no less than delivering on the promises he made on the behalf of the Movement in 2013 and 2017,” Vetevendosje said.
Head of Vetevendosje's parliamentary group, Glauk Konjufca said that the citizens need to know that if border demarcation agreement passes, Kosovo will lose territory to Montenegro. He said the opposition should not be blamed for this but rather those who have signed the agreement in the first place.
Albulena Haxhiu from Vetevendosje said that they have sued President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci for treason for signing the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro in 2015 which the party claims strips 8,000 ha of Kosovo territory.
Vetevendosje leader, Albin Kurti, said in a press conference today that the statement signed by President of Montenegro Filip Vujanovic and Kosovo’s Hashim Thaci is a “manipulation” and that its aim is to save certain people at the government of Kosovo. He highlighted that ratification of the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro is not the only condition for visa liberalisation and that fight of corruption and organised crime are also among the visa liberalisation criteria. “Why all this haste on the part of Thaci and Haradinaj?
In a press conference today, Vetevendosje officials have urged the implementation of the Kosovo Assembly resolution adopted recently calling for an international investigation into the 2016 grenade attack on the Assembly building for which the court has already convicted four Vetevendosje activists. MPs Arberie Nagavci and Liburn Aliu said the court’s ruling is arbitrary and does not rest on any evidence.
Vetevendosje leader, Albin Kurti, announced they plan to initiate a parliamentary motion for Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj regarding the death of Vetevendosje activist, Astrit Dehari, whilst in detention. Kurti accused the government of Kosovo for not allowing an international inquiry into the circumstances that led to Dehari’s death in November 201 even though three months ago it vowed to give green light to such an operation.
Vetevendosje officials said in a debate on the specialist chambers and its relations with Kosovo institutions that although they consider the court to be political and aimed at “distorting” the fight for freedom led by the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), the initiative for its abrogation is not right.
Vetevendosje has issued a statement saying that Nol Nushi and Teuta Rrusta, who called a press conference for today, do not represent the positions of Vetevendosje and that their contracts with the movement’s secretariat have not been renewed. This morning a statement went out to the media announcing that Nushi and Rrusta were going to address reporters regarding the recent developments in Vetevendosje. In this press conference they announced they were resigning their posts in Vetevendosje.
Vetevendosje deputy leader, Dardan Sejdiu, has resigned all leading posts in the party as a sign of protest towards recent developments. In a letter, Sejdiu said his resignation follows a period of problems within Vetevendosje and notes that he has not seen readiness on the part of the leadership to resolve these issues and move forward.