In this text you will be able to read the main developments of the fifth day of the election campaign for the local election run-off to be held on November 9. 18 municipalities are in the run-off.
Haradinaj: Ardian Gjini, a model president for all of Kosovo
Support for the current mayor and his party's candidate for another term as mayor of Gjakova, Ardian Gjini, was requested on Friday by the leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj.
At the closing rally of the campaign in Gjakova, Haradinaj said that Gjini is a champion mayor, adding that his vision and that of the team he leads are a model for all of Kosovo.
"With Ardian in leadership, you will truly have a constant inspiration to do the best work in Gjakova. I have always known that Gjakova has its potential. I have known it, I have experienced it in difficult times and I have seen who the people of Gjakova are," said Haradinaj.
And Gjini, who in the November 9th runoff with the candidate of the Vetëvendosje Movement, Ardian Gola, aims for another mandate as head of Gjakova, asked for the trust of the citizens.
"We know how to work, that we will work again, that we will be with you for another four years and we will make Gjakova a garden, not a nursery. On Sunday, all we have left to do is go out and vote on Sunday and that's it. The difference is very big because the citizens gave their trust on October 12, regardless of the fact that we lost by that 2.12 percent," said Gjini.
As evidence of his work, he listed the projects completed during his term.
"When we add them all together, for these years, there are somewhere around 180-190 million euros, capital investments, for eight years. It has never been even close before, never at all. And of these 180 million, somewhere around 120 million are from the Municipality. It has never been even close before, in any period of time," he added.
AAK also went to the runoff in the municipalities of Junik, Rahovec, Suhareka and Klina.
This party has also held closing rallies in these municipalities, in which its mayoral candidates have unveiled the promises with which they sought the citizens' votes on November 9th.
Rama at the closing rally: Don't give your vote to the blockers
The Democratic League of Kosovo candidates in the runoff race for mayor of nine municipalities, in addition to meetings with citizens and businesses, have directed criticism and accusations towards their opposing candidates.
The LDK candidate for mayor and current mayor of Pristina, Përparim Rama, at the closing rally, openly accused the ruling party of blocking the elections.
"I have also spoken to you about blockades because they are not words, but walls that we try to push and tear down for you. But you know that I do not stop, because the love for the city does not stop. When you love the country, you work for it even when they hinder you... Don't vote for the blockade. Don't vote for envy, laziness and division. Give it to work, give it to vision," he said.
And LDK leader Lumir Abdixhiku visited Dragash on Friday in support of the candidate for mayor of this municipality, Bexhet Xheladini.
"In Dragash, I was particularly interested in visiting an extraordinary capital project that had caught my eye on every visit here, and that our mayor had started and completed without anyone's help: the water factory. With a capacity of 5 million liters per 24 hours, a full 15 villages and the city of Dragash itself, for the first time in their entire history, have drinking water. When 25 thousand residents have their main problem solved with such a project, you understand how noble life in politics can be," said Abdixhiku.
The fiercest race is underway for the mayor of Junik. The current mayor from the LDK, Ruzhdi Shehu, has sued his opponent, Agron Kuçi from the AAK, for defamation and insult. He has also accused him of attempting to buy votes.
"In the last few hours, we have received some information from the citizens of Junik, stating that AAK exponents are entering their homes and are attempting to buy votes. Fortunately, in our first mandate we installed security cameras in Junik and currently the entire Municipality of Junik is monitored 24/7 by these security cameras. Otherwise, we publicly thank the Kosovo Police for their commitment and dedication, especially during the last days and hours. Absolutely every case is being reported and handled by the competent authorities," Shehu declared.
Shehu's party colleague, Xhafer Gashi, who is also running for a governing mandate in Obiliq, promised through a video message to continue subsidies for farmers.
"As we have done in the last four years, we will continue to subsidize the construction of greenhouses, the construction of mini-farms for farmers, various equipment for our farmers... We will continue to subsidize because it is necessary for our farmers to have facilities, we will subsidize with greenhouses, with various equipment, then we will also subsidize milk for our farmers," said Gashi.
The Mayor of Peja, Gazmend Muhaxhiri, who is also running for a governing mandate, has presented the work on repairing the road in the village of Loxha, and the installation of protective fences on the promenade along Lumbardhi.
The LDK is also competing for runoffs in Gjilan, Fushë Kosova, Viti and Suhareka.
Krasniqi: Bashota, a mayor who knows the solutions to Klina's problems
PDK leader Memli Krasniqi called his party's contender, Sokol Bashota, who aims to return to the head of the municipality in the November 9th runoff, a candidate who knows the solutions to Klina's problems.
He said that with Bashota as mayor, the citizens of Klina will have a government in which the words given are kept.
"Kola has always walked alongside you, not above you. Kola knows the problems of Klina, but above all he knows the solutions. I assure you that Kola will not be justified, but will take responsibility for his work, and he has always done work in the past when he served you," said Krasniqi.
Bashota vowed to restore Klina's dignity.
"We will continue with capital investments throughout the Municipality of Klina, both in the city and in the villages, to restore the dignity and trust of citizens in the municipal institution," Bashota promised.
In Kaçanik, the PDK leader declared the victory of his candidate, Sabedin Vishi, certain. There, he invited all those who are and have been with the PDK to show their support for the party at the ballot boxes.
"I want to send a message to all those who once walked with us - the door of the Democratic Party of Kosovo is open to those who may have doubted, the time of doubt is over. For all those who once said we are PDK, we expect them to say the same thing today," said Krasniqi.
Vishi asked for the votes of the people of Kaçanik, vowing that he had the best offer.
"Let's seal the victory of the Democratic Party, because we have the best offer for the citizens of Kaçanik. And this offer was made in coordination or in accordance with the demands of the citizens, in accordance with the demands of teachers, nurses, doctors, farmers, students, athletes and all categories who contribute to the Municipality of Kaçanik", said Sabedin Vishi.
In Prizren, the PDK candidate for another term as mayor, Shaqir Totaj, has received support from the Social Democratic Initiative. The coalition announcement was made by the Initiative's candidate for mayor, Albulena Balaj-Halimaj.
"Today, together with Mayor Shaqir Totaj, we agreed on an important step for our city. Prizren needs cooperation to advance the projects that people are waiting for. In this meeting, we decided to turn words into action and guarantee institutional stability for the next mandate. Therefore, on Sunday, I invite the citizens of Prizren to vote for Shaqir Totaj as mayor, so that together we can advance every project that our city deserves," said Balaj-Halimaj.
In addition to Klina, Kaçanik and Prizren, PDK candidates have also entered the runoff race in the municipalities of Mitrovica, Vushtrri and Dragash.
VV promises drinking water in Viti and a livable city for young people in Kaçanik
The Vetëvendosje Movement has promised drinking water for the citizens of Viti in this municipality.
The party's leader, Albin Kurti, has also joined the campaign of its candidate, Arsim Ademi. Kurti spoke to the people of Vitia about the decisions he has taken as prime minister.
"Additions have been given to nearly 2 mothers and nearly 10 children, which of course improves the well-being of families. In Viti, we will increase the capacity of drinking water production and expand the network. Viti is being connected to the Arbën Xhaferi highway, the works have continued and the work is nearing completion," Kurti said.
Good work for Viti, promised the candidate for mayor, Arsim Ademi.
"We will build 5 new kindergartens and 4 sports halls in schools, we will build specialist polyclinics so that our citizens do not have to travel to regional hospitals for basic specialist services, we will build sports fields and renovate the stands in football fields such as in Pozhoran, Sadovina, which are already in a deplorable condition," he said.
The Vetëvendosje Movement's candidate for mayor of Kaçanik, Jeton Raka, said that this municipality should become a place where young people want to stay and parents want to raise their children.
"This change on Sunday has a number, it has the number 105, which is the number of the great victory in Kaçanik because the citizens deserve it, because they need it, because the time must pass when power is used for a certain individual. Let's make Kaçanik the model of a municipality that progresses," said Raka.
"We have tried not to leave this municipality in the border area of Kosovo aside because our policies are corner to corner. From Kaçanik to Leposaviq, from Junik to Kamenica," Kurti added.
On Friday, the Vetëvendosje Movement's candidate for mayor of Prizren, Artan Abrashi, focused his election campaign on rallies with citizens in the neighborhoods of this municipality.
Also part of the rallies were Vetëvendosje MPs and the leader of the New Democratic Party, Emilja Rexhepi.
The candidate for mayor of Rahovec, Ali Dula, also held small rallies with citizens. Together with the VV's candidate for prime minister, Glauk Konjufca, he met with the residents of Kruša e Madhe.
In addition to Rahovec, Prizren, Kaçanik and Viti, the Vetëvendosje Movement is also in the runoff in Obiliq, Vushtrri, Fushë Kosovë, Peja, Mitrovica, Gjilan, Gjakova and Pristina.
LDK's Osmani promises new roundabout in Fushë-Kosovo Polje
The Democratic League of Kosovo candidate for mayor of Fushë-Kosovo, Besnik Osmani, has promised to build a new roundabout in the industrial area in this municipality.
According to him, a roundabout connecting "Dardania" and "Mother Teresa" streets would ease traffic and increase traffic safety.
"The roundabout in the Industrial Zone (at Kastrati), which connects the "Dardania" road with "Mother Teresa", is our project that we will build to facilitate traffic and increase traffic safety. This conceptual project is conceived as part of the development of modern infrastructure in the city, with functional design, public lighting and a clear signaling system. With its implementation, Fushë Kosova will gain a new road junction that increases safety, efficiency and urban value of the area", he wrote on Facebook.
Osmani came second in the first round of local elections on October 12. In the runoff, he will face Valon Prebreza of the Vetëvendosje Movement, who won the first round with 45.15 percent. Osmani had 36.66 percent. In total, the difference between them was about 1800 votes.
The second round is held on November 9th.
AAK supports LVV in the runoff in Viti
The Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) will support the candidate of the Vetëvendosje Movement (LVV) in Sunday's runoff in Vushtrri.
The LVV candidate for mayor of Viti, Arsim Ademi, is competing in the runoff with the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) candidate, Sokol Haliti, who is also the mayor.
The LVV-AAK agreement was announced by AAK candidate for mayor of Viti, Labinot Bislimi, who received 2.89 percent of the votes in the October 12 elections.
"After the values, ideas and programs were aligned. After we made the decision within our structures. This morning we signed the coalition agreement at the branch level and extended our hand to each other with the candidate for mayor, Mr. Arsim Ademi. This coalition is a natural consequence of the situation and our own positioning against the evil of the Municipality of Viti that we call Sokol Haliti by name," Bislimi wrote on Facebook.
"The Dega Alliance in Viti has never remained indifferent to the processes and has never had a neutral position in the face of evil. It has had and will always have political stances and positions responding to the situations of the time. The current situation requires courage, mobilization and positioning. This coalition once again expresses our courage to be part of political processes; to help social dynamics and to push forward the values, ideas and projects necessary for the citizens of our municipality", he further wrote.
Halit received 38.01 percent of the votes in the first round, while Ademi received 33.46 percent.