February 14th elections, but citizens lack confidence in party cliche promises

Citizens will also be distrustful of promises to give these parties prior to early parliamentary elections to be held on February 14th, says analyst Life Krasniqi.

Citizens he talked to The REL, they say that experiences due to past election campaigns have shown that most of the political parties' promises -- competing for the seats of the Kosovo Assembly and governing the country -- do not coincide with reality.

For more, as they say, promises that have eventually had real basis for fulfillment have not been realized.

Citizens: Unfulfilled Promises

Dorina Luka from Pristina, says the reality created in Kosovo leaves little room to be trusted with political parties' promises.

I trust you very little. Perhaps it is time for parties to reform and understand that they cannot only promise and fail. The aspect of youth investment is especially important. I believe all parties should have a prioritization of real investment in young people, especially for informal education. We see that young people are on the streets all the time. Sometimes they don't even see hope. So each party's moral obligation is to introduce strategic planning for young people, try to include them, but also to realise if they win”, Luka said.

Albania, a young man from Pristina who in this year's elections will come out for the first time to vote, says he has lost confidence in most political parties, as well as in their promises.

However, he points out that even party promises, which he has decided to vote on, will trust only half of them.

This 50 percent of confidence is for only one party. Only for one, because these others have come to our noses lying to us about visa liberalisation, which is also necessary for us. Not to mention others at all - jobs and other locations. For now no, I don't believe them, and then let's see”, Rudaku said.

Approximate thoughts also include Ismet Naman from Pristina. He suggests that promises political parties will give during the election campaign will be cliche promises.

So far, as he says, political parties, in general, have rarely kept their promises. According to him, Kosovo citizens have lost confidence in them and their promises.

He says he would even be pleased if political parties fulfilled only half of their promises.

If you're only approaching 50 percent, we're very pleased. But they have never approached him, nor in the past, nor will they now approach him. That's painful. For 21 years now, just take the health case. There is no political subject that has spoken of health for 21 years. Trust what more? For 21 years now we have no health insurance”, Naman stressed.

Punishment of Promisebreakers, Message From Citizens

Analyst Life Krasniqi from Kosovo Democratic Institute says about THE REL that political parties, ongoing in the election campaigns of several successive parties, have given promises, which have not been in line with reality.

As she points out, political parties have made promises of multi-digit employment that were not in line with the country's budget, promises of salary increases, gender equality and many others that have failed to address government programmes, the moment specific parties have come to power.

Whether to make similar promises to political parties in their campaigns for early parliamentary elections on February 14th and will citizens believe such evental promises, as she says, remains to be seen.

But, according to her, in past elections, citizens have punished political parties, which have not kept promises previously given.

Kosovo's “citizen, if we look at him from past elections, has voted for parties that have promised there will be fighting corruption, which will have better health and better education. So the message of Kosovo's citizens to political parties is very clear. Now it remains political parties to fulfill, primarily, what they promise, but also for their promises to be realistic. So, to be promises that are in line with Kosovo's terms or capabilities. We see billion promises, while Kosovo has a limited budget of”, Krasniqi stressed.

Promises by the 2019 elections

In the election campaigns for the recent parliamentary elections, which were held on October 6, 2019, political leaders had given different yet common promises at certain points.

The Vetevendosje movement pledged strengthening the private sector with salaries, increasing jobs, strong legal state, increased effectiveness of the justice system, education and quality health and deployment of reciprocal measures with the state of Serbia.

The Democratic League of Kosovo promised that its programme would focus on citizens' vital interests, economic development, equal prospects for all, and justice for all, quality education and health, as well as the return of the state on the path of true democracy, freedom and progress.

The Democratic Party of Kosovo promised the fight against corruption and organised crime, the country's economic development, rule of law, the respect of foreigners towards Kosovo, protection of territory and sovereignty, co-existence of all citizens of the country, and strengthening the Kosovo alliance with the United States and the European Union.

The Alliance for the Future of Kosovo coalition and the Social Democrat Party had pledged that it would not lift the 100 per cent tax on Serbia's goods until it recognises Kosovo on existing borders, economic development, health and education, strengthening the legal state and the judiciary system.

The coalition of the Social Democrat Initiative, the New Kosovo Alliance and the Justice Party promised that the priority of this coalition would be Kosovo's foreign policy and dialogue with Serbia, investments in economics and agriculture, rule of law, as well as stimulating small and medium-sized enterprises.

Krasniqi: Fields on Bilateral Charges

Analyst Krasniqi expresses the opinion that political parties will not change their approach with promises even for this year's elections. According to her, political parties will promise no real cover even during their campaigns for the February 14th elections.

I believe you will continue the same way. It remains to be seen now because the campaign has not yet officially begun, but will remain in the same promises. What additional things we can see this time involves economic recovery as a result of COVID-19. There we will see greater promises, whether for business or for citizen support. The rest we will see are charges and against charges between political parties, accusing each other, in order to win more votes from electorate”, Krasniqi said.

The Central Election Commission has decided that for early parliamentary elections on February 14th, political parties will have ten days available to campaign from February 2nd to 13th.

Meanwhile, unofficially, political leaders have already launched their campaigns and, in some cases, even gatherings with activists and their followers, which, as noted, conflicts with recommendations from the National Institute of Public Health of Kosovo and with the Law to prevent the pandemic of Cornavirus.