Periodial Editor: Which candidate should be voted in Pristina

On Sunday, Pristina citizens must choose between two candidates for mayor: Vetevendosje and LDK's Arba Abrash Shpend Ahmeti. But more than between two individuals, citizens will be able to choose between two different ruling ways, and between two different ideological directions. (Although both are part of the centrist political parties, one in the centre left and the other in the right)

Abrashi entered the race as a new face in politics, and undoubtedly as a politician more acceptable than the former LDK candidate, Isa Mustafa. But news on his face was sparked by the political debates we saw, especially by the debate that they faced each other, by the stiff stand and the praise he is constantly giving to the municipal government of Isa Mustaf. Abrashi is in an inappropriate political position, since he must keep his mouth shut about everything that went wrong in Pristina during the 14 years that LDK had power in the municipality. And that's damaging to citizens themselves because rejection of mistakes leads to their repetition, and to the same governmental practices. From this position, Abrashi would have to at least expose those properties and traits that distinguish him from his party chief, and the former head of this municipality. But he did not. Therefore, he could not create his identity as candidate and future capital chairman. This creates great potential for this candidate to be blackmailed and incompatible to the different interest groups that circulate in the capital, resulting in the interest of ordinary citizens.

Shpend Ahmeti on the other hand, in this regard, is very different. Since the 2013 local elections, he won numerous votes because of his identity as an important example of civil society, affirming his exclusive identity from the party, which made him to a considerable extent, irreparably responsible and serving citizens. Yet, there is room for criticism in this regard. Through the political force he received as mayor, he was probably more involved than necessary at the central level of policymaking. Also disturbing is the large number of employed militants, although it is clear that the number of approximately 500 people who mentioned him (including Abrashi) does not stand. And anyway, the Shpend managed to represent the example of the unreceptive chairman from business groups who cannot even be claimed by Abrashi, since he is himself part of that group.

Arba Abrash, meanwhile, was careless of the promises he made reflecting on this form of inadequacy. 1.2 billion euros in investments for four years is an unapprovable and even scoffing figure for citizens. It is at this point that there is another great difference between Shpend Ahmeti, who constantly deals with the method or method through which work is done. Instead of promising, he uses the word "muff." Ahmeti's approach affirms another relationship between citizenship and municipal governance: closer, more transparent. Abrashi has the same mind, and therefore he serves simply as an agent of the same power that was operating in Pristina four years ago. Not an agent for change and progress, but I'm against it, for not changing and standing up.

A priority of Arba Abrash towards Shpend Ahmeti stems precisely from his worst evil. Because it has no design or any ideas or even the conviction of its own policy allows it to be more cooperative with central institutions, such as Government and Parliament. In the past four years, this was one of the main shortcomings of Ahmeti government. In this regard, however, there are clear signs of improvement. Vetevendosje has won a large number of seats in the municipal assembly, and most likely after possible victory, Shpend Ahmeti will not be blocked by this institution. Also, he has named governing Haradinaj as “co-operative budget” and is therefore expected to have good co-operation with Government. And even, co-operation is expected to be shared with the Assembly, if we consider the large number of MPs that Vetevendosje has in this legislature, including a measure of MPs from other parties who have no blocking approach.

We also mentioned ideological differences. Whether we want to or not, we all make our own choices (even when we don't choose) and are involved in ideological background. Ahmeti and Abrashi, though part of the centrist parties -- the first aware of the other non-knowing -- have been put on the stage of one and the other ideological conviction. Ahmet's social policies, including the kilo and buses, have been ridiculed by the other candidate Abrashi. Just as his failure to make capital investments has been ridiculed at the expense of concrete citizens of the middle class and poor class. Abrashi is not an observer of social policies, or well-being, and this is also noted by the promise to create Pristina's economic zone, from the promise to push forward major projects which, the first to benefit, are different companies. His program, and his promises should no longer be taken seriously than his approach.

Citizens should be very attentive at this point. That is because, it was evident that during the municipal governments of Isa Mustaf, Pristina developed on the basis of the needs of different interest groups, including construction companies, which need often did not match the general benefit and needs of citizens. Citizens of Pristina, like all Kosovo citizens, have not been defining dynamics and development orientation through their needs and interests. It was a long time ago, it was necessary to work on easing social inequality, and in general, to prioritize the true needs of citizens without the interference of business enterprises in them. The result of such thinking is the toleration of thousands of free-free interjections during the 14 years of LDK power. Another consequence, for example, was the non-consuming of buying new buses. Or, neglecting any small work where the interests of a large company were not connected - suppose, creating parks, playing grounds, or reading angles, as happened during Ahmet's time. What is worse, the LDK governments had also ignored the pressing and very delicate issue of quality in education, even weighing it even more through prestigious party-based directors, and possibly all staff. In Ahmeti's rule, a significant development is the increasing average grade of teachers.

The bureaucratic approach may not be that desirable for Kosovo companies, and for business in general, but is obviously useful for general civic interest. For the sake of delivering jobs before Arba Abashi has expressed readiness to violate procedures and laws. This was expressed openly by him in the debate in Kosovo, about the facade of buildings in Ulpiana district.

Taking into account what was said, but many other things which are not necessary to repeat the cause of numerous debates, Periscope expresses the conviction that Pristina citizens should vote on Shpend Ahmeti's Vetevendosje candidate. That would be in favour of an oriented development, and in favour of the citizens of Pristina themselves by putting their needs and interests first.