Nexhami Rudari says elections in Podujevo are in question

In an interview for Kosovo Preess, Rudari says that cases with Ovid-19 in this municipality, as across the country have been significantly increased and that the situation turns heavy.

He says that up until now in this municipality with Covid-19 some 1,000 citizens have been affected, with 29 of them losing their lives.

The situation in the Podujevo municipality appears heavy in the Republic of Kosovo and in the region, the number of affected almost exponentially has increased. Only until today do we have about 1000 cases, from the first day of March 15th, 679 are healed, 248 active cases, and unfortunately 29 have changed lives because of Ovidius. So it's a beautiful state of concern both for us as local governments and for family medicine centers and certainly for Kosovo citizens.

Despite this Rudari coming from the same party as Prime Minister Hoti, says a series of closures will collapse businesses in general, and the gastronomial sector became particular.

He says such concern has been conveyed to the rest of the municipalities, including Minister Zemaj.

We certainly have no choice but to respect the government's measures, even at the conference, the online meeting we've had with the health minister, and I as the mayor's task manager, but several other leaders have also rejected the total closure. They have recommended that the minister take other measures, in co-operation with local governance, and with citizens to implement the measures precisely so that it does not come until total closure. I had an emergency headquarters this morning where we reviewed the situation in the Podujevo municipality and then I had a meeting with representatives of gastronomy businesses and got their legitimate concerns. I consider that if we go to total closure then businesses in the first place gastronomia will only collapse because they're also in a very serious situation, and I appeal that the Government and small businesses, such as cafiteria, gastronomy, will certainly help after the package is voted for economic recovery”, he says.

Rudari, who is also the LDK candidate for mayor of this municipality, also questions elections expected to be held at the end of this month.

He says it will be very difficult to convince citizens in this situation to appear in the ballot boxes because of fear of David-19.

“We as the political subject and I as a candidate are preparing for elections anyway because they should happen whenever, but I appreciate that responsible organs are needed, relevant as is the health ministry and the national public health institute to assess the situation and then recommend the central election commissions for holding elections. With this number growing up I share concern with some of the citizens, which will be hard for me to convince them to be voter-day participants because of the fears they have to go back to the surface because of the increase in the rate of cases. I said so far, in the Podujevo municipality, we have over 1,000 cases, the Podujevo municipality unfortunately entered red-coloured municipalities where the risk rate is high. But if they appreciate it, the Ministry of Health and the IKSHP appreciate that the election process would not affect the further spread of Devi-19, we as a party and I as a candidate are prepared and we are to hold the” elections, he says.

The election for mayor of Podujevo is expected to be held on November 29th, while besides Rudari, the mayor's post is also aimed at speeding Bulqi from the Vetevendosje Movement and Naim Fetah by the PDK.