Krasniqi: Kurti government has chosen abstention in the face of the worst economic crisis in the country

Democratic Party of Kosovo Chairman Memli Krasniqi says the Kurti Government is abstained from the worst economic crisis Kosovo citizens have plagued and with great potential to burden further the socio-economic plight that is prevalent in Kosovo.

According to the opposition leader, at a time when everyone had eyes on rising prices, Kosovo citizens were also presented with a new challenge -- that of power reductions in the middle of summer.

Leader of The PDK has written on its Facebook page that in all of this situation, the Kosovo government has shown strong determination to reject any recommendation that would affect curb price hikes, but also recommendations for salary growth, at least pensions and benefits from social schemes, as far as inflation is concerned.

When expectations for the economy this year deteriorate, Kosovo's government appears to have given up every serious effort to help the country cope with the economic crisis it is facing. Instead, the Government seems more determined for an information campaign with which it aims to inform citizens of how severe the coming winter will be, said Krasniqi.

The data for July shows that food prices in Kosovo have been for 22.1% higher compared to the same period of the preliminary year, while citizens' revenues remain the same as the pre-crisis period and that, in real terms, Krasniqi implies a significant drop in purchasing power.

“In the whole situation, the Government of Kosovo has shown strong determination to reject any recommendation that would affect curb price hikes, but also recommendations for wage growth, at least pensions and benefits from social schemes, as long as it is the level of inflation. In this way, the Government has chosen abstention in the face of the worst crisis that has plagued the country, with great potential to burden even further the difficult socioeconomic situation that is prevalent in Kosovo”, the head of the country said. Memli Krasniqi's PDK.

The search to supply the country with electricity, even during this period, presents the closest warning about what we can expect for the following months, especially in the winter season. The Government's failure during the past year to provide adequate electricity supply, with more favourable conditions, seems to have brought no lesson to institutions for this year as well. Nor to make the necessary preparations for full functioning of local power production capacities”, Krasniqi said.

All these developments, according to Krasniqi, negatively influence consumption, production and investment in the country's economy, which further extends negative impact to the employment rate and citizens' income.

As if these shocks were not enough for the economy, during this year the Government of Kosovo has almost blocked public capital investments. The realisation rate of public capital investments by June represents only 11% of the expenditures planned for the 2022 category. With this, the country's economy is being denied a very important source of economic activity generation, while the real value of deposits collected by the government every day and more is falling as a result of inflation and the continued increase in prices”, he said.

As a consequence of these conditions, Krasniqi says recent forecasts regarding economic growth in Kosovo for 2022 suggest a growth rate of only about 2.5%.

However, with this ruling mind, with this fear - inspiring inability and neglect, continuing current conditions will likely lead our country's economy into a cycle of decline or recession, which, being associated with this high inflation rate, presents an ominous scenario for the country's economy and the welfare of citizens. In all of this serious situation, the Government, except that it is lost, is abstaining from its responsibility, while Kosovo families are left alone, with no support from their state, awaiting a difficult meeting with the upcoming heavy winter of”, the head of the country has said. PDK.