Isolation free of economic recovery, Kosovo towards collapse, protests

This two - day isolation resulted from a significant increase in recent cases, especially in the capital. But in terms of this isolation, the business community, the Economic Ods and the Gastronomous Association, writes news.

Kosovo, it has not yet managed to vote in the Parliament on the Economic Recovery Law, and this is seriously challenging businesses which have had over a billion total losses since the beginning of the pandemic.

Economy expert Safet Gerjaliu has indicated that Kosovo has become experimental space and ideas that are being concreteised in decisions are far from real.

According to Gerjaliu, Kosovo dares have no powerful state when it comes to closure and harsh anti-Condavit measures because, according to him, other countries have proceeded with swift steps in supporting businesses.

It should be understood that Kosovo's greatest concern is becoming an experimental space, as you see, everyone is coming up with the idea of reality, and in this direction it's looking at the politicization of the Coronavirus pandemic and the politicization of this is how it's affecting the non-vote of the economic recovery package. If we face such a political boycott of such an important law, how can closure be required and ultimately how one sees an example, Germany, Austria, Italy, when it is known that those countries have done much for business instead of destroying it”, Gerjaliu said.

Furthermore, Gerjaliu said state authorities are challenging the patience of the private sector. According to him, Kosovo's current strategy is damaging the economy, and this could bring social unrest to the country.

“in Kosovo since March 2020 there has been no response to businesses and having such a closure and experimenting with the private sector and the business community, I fear that it is a strategy that is damaging Kosovo economically and feeding Kosovo's opponents because tomorrow we may have social unrest and it is the worst that Kosovo can happen when facing health, economic, social and political instability”, Gerliou said.

Gerjaliu added that delays in economic recovery are fatal. He expresses these measures will not have their effect, since they are delayed.

Kosovo, according to Gerjaliu, is facing various pandemics, from social to political, but which according to him, economic pandemic is more disturbing because it will have long-term consequences.

It's the time when it has to do more than talk because only when the private sector is helped, and only then can closure measures be taken, but this kind of closure, besides economic and social tracks, leaves negative psychological evidence in mass and loses hope that the state will support businesses. Kosovo is at three or four pandemics simultaneously, and for me it is disturbing to the economic pandemic that has engulfed Kosovo and delayed measures will have the desired effect because it is technologically experienced differently. The assistance that will be offered to businesses later will not have its effect because interest rates have increased, debts have increased, and inflation has been produced, and this hits citizens and businesses. And I believe that when the measures are taken, it will be difficult to have the effect.”, he said.

In the end, Gerjaliu said that if other countries need 2-3 years for recovery, Kosovo will need double due to negligence.

Linked to these measures, gastronoms today have been protesting with spoons and pots in Pristina under the slogan “Our government is exhausted, it can't be done, you know”.

Petrit Kllokoqi from the Kosovo Gastronom Association said this protest is a warning Monday will have massive protests.

“The measures have become too tough, as expenditures are continuing. We with this protest have only warned Monday's protest, which will be massive”, Klokoqi told the media.

Gastronomers warn mass protest Monday

The American Economic Oda has also reacted to recent measures in Kosovo, which has raised concerns about the state of the private sector, but also about the uncertainty of the measures.

Understanding the need to protect public health through the company of relevant measures for preventing the spread of the pandemic COVID19, the American Economic Oda requires that at the same time be taken into account the damage that business restrictions have on private sector companies and their survival. Moreover, yesterday's decision leaves room for mutual interpretations due to the failure to define the expression of terms included in the decision, which is resulting in the punishment of private companies, such as the case with the term “small supermarkets” without clarifying which elements define the size of a retail company. Such formulas lead to unfair punishment of private enterprises, which despite the difficulties caused by the COVID19 pandemic, have done their best to continue their activities and maintain jobs, but also in equal treatment of different companies within the same sectors. ”, said among other things in the OAK communiqué.

Even the head of the Kosovo Economic Ode, Berat Rukiqi during yesterday's day, has indicated that Kosovo is moving towards economic collapse.

“Recurs: Any closure, without business support measures, without law for recovery, is leading us to collapse.”, Rukiqi said, while in another post he has also warned the business community and the private sector protest.

There is tremendous pressure from businesses to organise protests and other forms of opposition to...

Posted by Berat Rukiqi on Friday, November 6, 2020
On the other hand, during yesterday's day of closure, Kosovo citizens face Albania and North Macedonia to spend the weekend, both with an epidemic situation almost similar to Kosovo.

Over the next week, competent executive authorities will review the new anti-Convidian measures, but in the opinion it has been speculated also about the greater limits of travel and business work hours.