Rahovec, July 20, 2025 — Smajl Latifi, the Mayor of Rahovec, has raised alarm over the deepening consequences of Kosovo’s ongoing institutional deadlock, stressing that the lack of a fully functioning central government is directly affecting municipalities.
In an interview with Ekonomia Online, Latifi described the situation as a major setback for local governance, stating that municipalities currently have no clear authority to address for even basic administrative or budgetary matters.
“A state without a constituted Assembly and without a government with full powers is a major damage to the national interest — both in internal governance and international relations. It’s a very poor reflection on Kosovo if, five months after elections, we still don’t have functioning institutions,” said Latifi.
He warned that project delays and miscommunication between municipalities and the central government are now widespread due to the absence of institutional coordination.
“There’s no functional relationship between the municipalities and the government. We technically have deputy ministers, but without a fully formed Assembly, the process has stalled — and we are left without an address to turn to,” he added.
Latifi called on citizens to differentiate between municipal work and national-level stagnation. He encouraged them to focus on local development when voting in the October 12 municipal elections, instead of directing their frustration at functioning municipalities.
He also pointed the finger at Lëvizja Vetëvendosje, blaming the ruling party for intentionally blocking the formation of new institutions.
“If people want to be angry, they should be angry at the party that won the parliamentary elections — Vetëvendosje. They’ve failed to fulfill their constitutional duty and have turned into the main blockers of institutional formation,” Latifi concluded.
