The Prishtina branch of the Vetëvendosje Movement stated that the issue with the municipal budget and today’s suspension of operations by private operators and “Urban Traffic” is the result of Përparim Rama, the LDK, its leader Lumir Abdixhiku, and their assembly members, whose long-standing denunciations regarding abuses in the Municipality of Prishtina and mismanagement in Prishtina’s public enterprises should now be investigated by the justice institutions.
Gëzim Sveçla said that Vetëvendosje will not remain silent, noting that today for the first time the city’s services were halted, and that part of the blame lies with the management of the “Urban Traffic” enterprise, which has hired over 100 party-affiliated individuals from LDK and PDK.
“Today, the Municipality of Prishtina is facing an unprecedented abuse of its institutions and public enterprises. Mayor Përparim Rama has placed the municipal enterprises at the service of LDK’s propaganda, attempting to build a false narrative against the Government and against Vetëvendosje. This is pure political manipulation, planned and deliberate. Regarding the budget, we have been clear from the beginning: the opposition parties have intentionally refused to approve Prishtina’s budget to serve their electoral campaign. And today, President Osmani publicly confirmed exactly that. The truth is simple: on one hand, a refusal to vote for Prishtina’s budget in the Parliament; on the other, a lack of work, responsibility, and the creation of politically obstructive strategies by Mayor Rama and the Democratic League of Kosovo. Projects have deliberately been held hostage. The development of the city has been sabotaged for electoral purposes. Municipal institutions have been put at the service of the LDK’s political games,” he said.
He stressed that the public enterprises belong to the city, not to political parties.
“Therefore, today we make an open call for intervention by the justice institutions. A full investigation must begin, and all the denunciations made over the past years regarding abuses in the Municipality of Prishtina and its enterprises must be addressed without delay. Vetëvendosje will not remain silent. Today we call upon all our structures in Prishtina—activists, supporters, and voters—to fully mobilize to protect the city from this deep political abuse. And we make a direct appeal to employees of public enterprises: do not become part of Përparim Rama and LDK’s unlawful political game. Do not accept pressure, blackmail, or instrumentalization. Public enterprises belong to the city, not to political parties. They are instruments of work, not propaganda. No one has the right to use you politically. This has been Rama’s talking point during the elections, and in coordination with PDK he is now attempting to turn it into a ‘cause’ regarding central elections. The narrative they are constructing about a blockade is false. The only ones blocking are Përparim Rama and Lumir Abdixhiku. President Osmani also confirmed that the Assembly had the right to approve municipal budgets. Today we call for urgent intervention by the justice institutions,” Sveçla added.
Another assembly member noted that today’s suspension of public transport in Prishtina will be remembered as historic—and that the blame lies with LDK and Mayor Përparim Rama.
“The situation we witnessed today is unprecedented. For the first time, it will enter the history of Prishtina that public transport was halted. The ones responsible are Përparim Rama and LDK, who have continuously blocked even themselves. The ‘Urban Traffic’ enterprise is managed by LDK, and it currently has more than 1 million euros in debt. All public enterprises are on the brink of bankruptcy. It is clear that every move by Rama is designed to create electoral narratives during campaign periods, pretending that someone else is blocking him. Today, after being briefed on the procedures, he called an urgent meeting of the Municipal Assembly. He has effectively admitted that he himself is to blame,” he said.
He also pointed out the differences between enterprises managed by LDK, PDK, and VV.
“‘Urban Traffic’, managed by LDK, currently has over 1 million euros in debt. The Bus Station, managed by Vetëvendosje, has 1 million euros in its account, no debts, and pays workers on time. Meanwhile, the ‘Green Enterprise’, managed by PDK, has only 70 cents in its bank account, and the same applies to the public housing enterprise, where employees struggle to receive their salaries. All enterprises managed by PDK and LDK are on the verge of bankruptcy,” Azemi emphasized.
