“I hope in 2024, Kurt won't change any minister”

On the first day of the new year, 2024 citizens interviewed by the Online Economy said they hope this year will be better, both in personal and Albanian terms.

All welcome liberalisation of the free movement of Kosovo citizens in EU countries.

Some think that visa removal came after the current government successfully fought crime and corruption; one expects business difficulties in the first months; and a pensioner has a request for Prime Minister Albin Kurti.

The “don't change any minister”, he says, seems ironic.

Mehmet Maxhuni said lifting visas is a very good thing that has happened to Kosovo and there is an explanation why the delay has occurred.

It was necessary earlier. They didn't fight crime. Without fighting crime, visas have not been removed. The key issue has been fighting crime and organised corruption. These were removed, liberalisation came”.

I'm out of the country, I haven't had much trouble. But, as a matter of fact, it's best not to go to the embassy and wait for”, he says. Sabit Rexha, pensioner from Pristina, complained that even this government is doing nothing about the category.

His wish is not to realize that “that someone is wanting to empty Kosovo”.

He criticised Albin Kurti and others “, who drive families out for better welfare, and sell patriotism to those who live in Kosovo.

He has one request, ironically, for the prime minister.

“I hope that this year, no minister would change us because he's been so obedient to us that he's sorry to change... We retirees die, so there's no need to raise the penson, because they're getting a lot of money.

Rexha also calls visa removal an injustice imposed in the country. I think it's going to be a painful year, at least the first”.

Medjid Ramiqi called for visa liberalisation not to be misused, and not let citizens leave their country.

“Visa liberalisation, I personally have not been impressed because I am not interested in leaving Kosovo. I didn't quit during the war, I didn't even let go after the war. Good that visa liberalisation has been done, well not to be misused -- that is, to leave Kosovo. Better life than in Kosovo I don't believe it can be done somewhere”, Ramiqi told EO.

I believe the year 2024 would be better than the year 2023 than the processes are moving forward. It can't be worse, but better. Every time things come to order, only a little bit we don't rush”.

God, in 2024, will unite all Albanian people here in Kosovo and outside Kosovo. And I hope it's a year of stabilising people's lives”.

Gzim Berisha said there has been a great injustice that Kosovo citizens have been denied the right to free movement so far. It envisions difficulties for workers, especially for gastronomy and construction sectors.

The visa liberalisation “has been welcome for us Kosovo citizens that it has done us an extremely great injustice. But finally this work came to an end”.

I think that because people have asked for a better life or to go find themselves somewhere better, it would have been a little harder for jobs here for companies, for gastronomy it would have been a little more problem”, Berisha says.