Kosovo municipalities announce protest over central government neglect

Municipal leaders and representatives in Kosovo have announced a protest scheduled for September 1 at 11:00 AM in Skënderbeu Square, Pristina. The Association of Kosovo Municipalities (AKK) stated the demonstration is a response to years of perceived neglect by the central government regarding municipal needs.

Sazan Ibrahimi, Executive Director of the AKK, noted that dialogue with the central level has been exhausted. Key grievances include financial issues, the non-implementation of Constitutional Court decisions, and interference in municipal competencies. Përparim Rama, the Mayor of Pristina, accused the government of blocking funds and obstructing municipal projects, alleging that municipalities not led by the Vetëvendosje party face political and financial pressure.

In response, Acting Finance Minister Hekuran Murati highlighted an increase in municipal budgets. Murati stated that due to strong revenue performance, the budget allocated to municipalities is projected to rise from 546 million euros in 2021 to 907 million euros by 2027.