Rama appoints new directors without presenting the new cabinet

The Mayor of Pristina, Përparim Rama, has not yet presented his governing cabinet for the second term, although two months have passed since the end of the local elections. However, as KOHA learns, he has already started appointing several directors, but it is not known whether the PDK will also be an integral part of the management, whose officials have stated that they have not yet had any discussions on this issue.

Two months have passed since November 9, when Përparim Rama was re-elected as mayor of Pristina for another term.

But since then, Pristina has been awaiting the introduction of the Rama 2 government.

Despite the fact that the capital city does not have an approved budget for either 2025 or 2026, the new Municipal Assembly has not met to discuss such points.

Even after the holidays, Mayor Rama spent a week on vacation in Austria skiing.

While he has not yet introduced his cabinet, he has made appointments and dismissals in several directorates.

He recently appointed Arbër Sadikin as Director of Planning.

Even though Bekim Gashi is among the most voted for in Pristina from the LDK, Rama has dismissed him from the position of Director of Public Services.

In his place, Rama has appointed his family member, Luftar Braha. 
"I don't have an aunt's son. I may have something related, but what does it matter? This is old news, you are late," declared Luftar Braha, director of Public Services.

While Sokol Havolli entered the race for MP, Rama appointed Acting Director of the Investment Directorate, Liridon Shahini.

There is no published decision on it yet, but Brahim Mehmetaj of AAK, who led the property directorate at the end of the last mandate, has published photos of a property agreement, implying that he will lead the property directorate for the next 4 years.  

According to the Association of Kosovo Municipalities, delays in the presentation of local governments are occurring due to participation in the elections of assembly members and directors.

"Mayors have not run, but there have been directors and assembly members who have been part of the central competition and this has likely influenced the finalization of the appointment of local governments in Kosovo. Municipalities have work to do, especially in terms of decisions, especially municipalities that have not approved the budget," said Sazan Ibrahimi, director of AKS.

PDK assemblyman Leutrim Retkoceri told KOHA that no discussion has yet taken place about continuing cooperation with LDK.

"We haven't had any meetings, so no discussions have taken place yet. We took a little break at the beginning of this year and I don't know what is expected to happen later," Retkoceri said.

Even in his first term, Rama was delayed in forming a government due to the coalition with the PDK.

KOHA has also attempted to obtain a response from the Municipality of Pristina as to when the Rama 2 government is expected to be introduced, but has not received any response so far.