Memli Krasniqi in front of delegates: The PDK will open and reform to become Kosovo's first political address

PDK chairmanial candidate Memli Krasniqi at the presentation of his political platform to delegates of the 10th election Convention has said the PDK is home to rescuers, intellectuals, patriots and visionarys, and will launch a new chapter that befits them, infinitely respecting the past, the present and each's contribution.

According to him, The PDK will never stop, though it is not easy to move away Hashim Thaci's path and Kadri Wessel.

He has warned party openings and reforms as one of the main pillars with which he intends to travel to the helm of the PDK.

This is his full speech:

Dear delegates to the 10th Convention of the Democratic Party of Kosovo,
Today, I stand before you, highly honored and grateful for the opportunity to address you, and aware of the burden of responsibility I ask for.
I feel a lot of responsibility and emotion standing here today before many of the founders of our political family, whose civic and national contribution is difficult to measure. I feel the same way before all of you who have joined our party at different times, especially young people and young people who are present and the future of the PDK.
This is what we gathered in this room for, it wasn't our choice.

It's an issue of what happened last November, when our two leaders unjustly stopped political activity.

But we did not stop and stop, even though it is not easy to move away the road of Hashim Thaci and Kadri Wessel.

A road that began when they were very young in the struggle to free the country, and young people in the establishment and leadership of our party for state building.

You know that feeling, although from far less weight than what it means to get distracted by the politics of your country, because at this age, as big as the challenges are, the motivation is too great.

When I joined the PDK in 2004, I was 24. Two years later, I took the confidence to lead Democratic Youth, and furthermore, the possibility of mú gave confidence to take on significant role in the country's service, within the party and in state institutions.

I have followed the honor and privilege of my life to be part of the PDK's great victories, but also of difficult times in government and opposition.

But this moment has never been my ambition to appear before you as a candidate for leadership. PDK.

However, this moment has come and turned into a responsibility that was neither right nor possible to run away.

And where we are today, I feel it's my obligation to say two things first.

I'm not just asking for a warrant. But I'm looking for your faith.

I'm not just asking to be your leader. But the first of the equals.

If I win your trust, for The PDK, with all of you, will do whatever it takes to get her back where she meets. As the most powerful party and with the most clear vision for the country. As the first political address in Kosovo.

This home of deliverers, intellectuals, patriots, and visionarys will begin a new chapter as it is well-becoming, endlessly respecting each other's past, present, and contribution. But always looking to the future.

honoured ones,
In over two decades of PDK political activity, we have never been more politically hit than we are today.

Our former Chairman, President Hashim Thaci, a man who has marked a historic era, with whom we have traveled and been proud, as well as our Chairman, Kadri Veselin, a man who has kept that era as a mission that we have been working together with, are today unjustly facing a court process on groundless claims.

It is not just about two PDK leaders, it is about two Kosovo leaders as well.

For, let anyone say whatever he wants, but without these leaders, there would be no state of Kosovo, nor when we wanted it, nor how we wanted it to be, nor how we want it in the future.

Because, the big political, social, economic, liberation and independence change is also linked to their name, and they will never be solved.

Because that's what KLA's story has sealed. The history of Independence. The history of State Building. And the history of Kosovo, as Hashim Thaci and Kadri Wessel have said, no one can rewrite it.

Hence, not only have we been hurt as a political party but we have been hurt both by political awareness and by both national awareness and state awareness.

However, their own example also educates us to believe in impartial justice, and to wait for their release as soon as possible, because not only do we need them and their families, they need the state, society and the entire Kosovo.

honoured ones,

There is no doubt that one of the factors that kept us together and encouraged us not to stop after last November, when The PDK was hit hard, it was the political maturity of our profa, the incumbent, Mr. Enver Hoxhaj.

He deserves our deep, undeniable respect for the weight he has carried on his shoulders during this difficult period.

It also deserves our respect for what is politically represented for PDK.

An intellectual of European size. A high profile politician. A successful ruler and a friend from whom we have always learned and continue to learn.

If there's something I'd ask you for a big round of applause, it would be just to honor Professor Hoxhaj, who, in the worst moments, faced difficulties and inspired us to stay together on challenges.

Endless respect, Professor Hoxhaj.

It was truly an honor to be behind you in this very difficult time.

honoured ones,
I stand as a candidate before you, trusting in you, seeking your trust.

But before we get there, I want to answer questions that bother us all.

Who is the PDK and what PDK we want?

The Democratic Party of Kosovo, in its DNA and origin, has the Kosovo Liberation Army and its right cause for freedom and independence.

It's pride. It's dignity. It's the identity we're proud of and we should always pride ourselves on.

The Democratic Party of Kosovo is the party of all of Kosovo's people. Deliverers, veterans, teachers, professors, doctors, intellectuals, artists, athletes.

It's a party of women and men, young and young.

Of all those who work and live honestly by their sweat and hard work.

It's the party that belongs to all of us, which works for everyone, all of us inside. The PDK is working for Kosovo that we've been aiming to achieve.

The Democratic Party of Kosovo is a party of great ideas, causes and projects and enables them to realise.

This has been, is and will remain, like before me, like me, like after me, whether we're in power or opposition, whether we're ahead of elections or after them.

The Democratic Party of Kosovo is the party that has made the biggest transformation in Kosovo's history.

Yet nothing stable, big and important has happened without the PDK.

If there has been development, investment, education, increased prosperity, this has been our ruling period from 2008 to 2017.

This is our true confession, and this is what citizens know.

We will not allow this confession to distort and obscure others because it is clear as light. Measurable, vulnerable, real and something that everyone has experienced and touched.

Today, unfortunately, all these achievements are badly jeopardised by the faithless mentality and ingratitude of current governance, endangering the very prospect of citizens and the state of Kosovo.

honoured ones,
How to Opera Today The PDK, on this political situation, must talk openly about certain things, and think about the future. We are opposition today.

It was also our mistakes that contributed to this situation.

We may not have been able to read the voters' mood quite correctly, so in the last two parties, we have not received enough support from them.

Reflection is essential. We can't go on the same.

At this point, I think we all agree.

As we are today, it is not enough to return. But we intend to return.

Hence, it is necessary to release all our inner potential but also to open up. We need to open up. We need to see what the political demographic of Kosovo citizens is in order to restore their faith.

We need to restore the support of women and young people we do not have in the past.

But, it doesn't return their support, and no other social categories, if we're not close to them, let's understand their ambitions, their needs, their expectations, and the solutions they need.

It seems like something difficult, but impossible for PDK doesn't exist.

We also need unity, determination, and commitment to start such an agenda together.

So we need to open up.

And when I'm talking about young people, I'm not just talking about age.

I'm talking about a combination of generations, which you're about to know what direction to take. The PDK, in order to be the first address for each citizen.

And our opening is one of the main pillars with which I think to travel to the helm of the PDK.

Second, in addition to the necessary changes in the structure of representation of our society, we should be profiled even on the ideal level.

The citizens of Kosovo, our supporters and voters, should learn and understand correctly when talking about their party, The PDK is talking about a party engaged in new and equal opportunities.

For opening up opportunities for the individual. For family. To the Republic.

For economic development managed by citizens for their own interests.

For a state political body where power is limited, divided and controlled by law.

Where equality before the law is the morality that keeps our institutions standing.

A party that, above all, appreciates man's values and dignity. Trusting in equality of odds and freedom of choice.

He engages in a country that serves and is not served.

For a righteous country where law is opportunity, not just restraint.

Where officials and citizens submit to the same rules, where the undeserved privilege has no place.

Where no region, city, village, or neighborhood is left behind by the opportunities our society creates.

And where citizens, young people, women, and men are not only able to choose and develop their potential but also to live healthy lives and quality lives.

To return, we must not forget who we are but to be transformed into what we want to become, what will bring us back as political conviction among Kosovo citizens.

To achieve these, I am aware that we have a lot of work.

But I believe in PDK and each of you.

To those who are, and to those who will come from now on, to share the journey with us, to victory.

Today we need a broader front for the political battle.

It's not time for some of us to have two and three positions. Where we are, we must give our maximum, and by becoming more successful.

We need to concentrate on doing our best, where we are, without the need to be everywhere.

The main battle today is in the Kosovo Assembly. So, in my belief, in my vision, MPs should have their full attention and commitment in the Parliament alone, while the leadership should be an executive body made up of party officials who have no other institutional commitments at this time.

I aspire to build a new Headship, not only with new people, but also with those legally raised in the PDK.

With the PDK guys and girls we started with a long time ago, who today are women and men willing to take leadership responsibility.

We also have to form the Good Governance Cabinet to shape our vision of future governance for a better Kosovo.

Only by releasing and mobilizing all the potential we have and adding to that value to people joining us can we return PDK to big victories.

Only so and all together will we set in motion this new political project, much needed for us, but also for Kosovo.

If I take your faith, I pledge that I will neither hurt you nor overlook you, mock or without it. I believe in meritocracy and in competition.

Politics is good when it changes the society and lives of citizens for good. Often, though, it also changes politicians. I'll stay the same. I will continue to be open to everyone and collaborators for everyone. I will strive to be a devoted family member, a loyal companion, and a good associate. That's why I expect your help on this common journey.

Good Priests, we're running white, together for PDK and Kosovo.

Thank you!