Ahmeti: VV, very interested in attacking PSD

Speaking in an interview for Radio Free Europe, Ahmeti says he has already had meetings with AAK and LDK, but his party has not yet decided whether to be part of any pre-election coalition

Ahmeti, whose party has 12 deputies, has rejected the voices they have named The PSD as government crutches Haradinaj when it has voted the budget, as well as several other laws. He says he is willing to enter a joint government with all parties, except for the PDK.

Radio Free Europe: Mr Ahmeti, after Ramush Haradinaj's resignation from the post of prime minister, did you have an invitation to enter the government?

Shpend Ahmeti: No, I've heard speculations everywhere, but I, as chairman of the subject and in the leadership meetings, have not received an offer from anyone to be a part of the government, so how it has been speculated or what others have said. But, at the same time we have stated even publicly, that because of the situation we are in and after Prime Minister Haradinaj's resignation, there would be insufficient legitimacy any other rotation for creating a government for the next two years. Therefore, we haven't had discussions, we haven't had negotiations, nor have we been willing to enter such discussions.

Radio Free Europe: Have you talked to any of the parties in Kosovo to make a pre-election coalition?

Shpend Ahmeti: We have not yet reached that stage, however, we have had meetings after Haradinaj's resignation. I've had meetings with the Chairman of the Initiative (Social Democrat), I've had meetings with Mr. Haradinaj, we have also had meetings with LDK deputies, I believe I will now have a meeting with the LDK chairman and the AKR chairman.

These were the topics of discussion, how we see the way ahead. What will happen to the election? What are the programs? By all means, if the Parliament is distributed next week, we will be ready to continue discussions to see if we will race ourselves, will we be part of a coalition?

Radio Free Europe: What about Vetevendosje Movement?

Shpend Ahmeti: No, because they were more interested in attacking him. PSD, sometimes I find it more interesting, is worse for them than the PDK. Although I'm saying it, we think it would be good, if it were a co-operation of the left bloc, which would then offer co-operation to any of the parties such as the Democratic League of Kosovo or the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, but have continued with attacks, instead of extending the hand of co-operation, let it be in their conscience.

But what's clear is that the future government is expecting some difficult tasks, the process of dialogue, the Special Court, the fight against organised crime and corruption, economic development, of course with the social protection we ask for as the PSD. On these subjects, if we really want change, a broader coalition will be required and in this case it is not worth saying we are the best and nobody else is worth it, but we need to think about what better programs and the best of our political scene right now to make this change. Those who insult everyone else and consider themselves good, I believe they will remain lonely and isolated.

Radio Free Europe: Which party in Kosovo is most acceptable for The PSD to make a coalition?

Shpend Ahmeti: What accepts our programming points. These program points have to do with some of the issues I mentioned earlier, but I am now posing to some of them, fighting corruption is very important, transparency. So we're looking for the Vetting Process, a kind of Vetting for the judicial system, the police system, for politicians, that would enable us to have a more functional state in the future and of course we're looking for the part of economic development, which is the centre-left, where privatisation is not viewed as the only solution, but investment in our resources and, of course, social protection that is the rights of workers, the rights of pensioners. So, a well-being, which is the main points we'll be looking for in any coalition.

I said once again, if there's no coalition, we'll compete with these programming points, the ones who accept these points, then we'll take it seriously. I don't mean red lines like these statements, but we've said several times that it would be good for Kosovo, that the Democratic Party of Kosovo would spend at least one mandate in opposition.

Radio Free Europe: Do you have a red line for a party?

Shpend Ahmeti: This red line is overused, but I said we didn't have meetings and we don't plan to have meetings with the PDK. We continue to think that the worst thing for Kosovo would be a PAN 2.

Radio Free Europe: Do you see yourself in the position of the next prime minister of Kosovo?

Shpend Ahmeti: I am the head of the Pristina municipality with a mandate by 2021, I have given promises to the citizens of Pristina, whose aim is to meet by the end of the mandate.

Radio Free Europe: You have been accused of being the principle of Haradinaj Government. How do you comment on these accusations?

Shpend Ahmeti: I say that the Kosovo Army, the taxes, full of certain policies couldn't be possible without the Social Democrat Party, that's why you can ask those who were in government, without any benefit. PSD. So, we haven't even asked for office, we have defended Kosovo's interest, and we have maintained partnership with the states that we consider to be Kosovo's friends.

When Prime Minister Haradinaj has decided to push in front of the Kosovo Army, then he called me on the phone and we met and asked: “This means that the Serbian List will leave when we push the military forward, do we have the PSD vote for this job?” And I've said not only to him, but also to any government when there are issues that are of interest to Kosovo, we will vote.