Journalists Stampede to Join Parties in Kosovo

the former journalist from Zeri newspaper, Blerim Shala, joined PDK on May 18. Photo: Kallxo

The latest journalist to make the transfer into politics in the country is renowned journalist and chief of Kosovo’s Radio Free Europe service, Arber Vllahiu. He joined Ramush Haradinaj’s Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, AAK.
 
“I see AAK as the right [way to] address the development of the country. I consider it our common path, to move towards this development,” said Vllahiu, who also served as an adviser to former President Atifete Jahjaga between 2011 and 2016.
 
Thursday last week Milaim Zeka, another journalist who has worked for TV programme “Pa Rrotlla” joined the Initiative for Kosovo (NISMA). Zeka was previously linked to the biggest political party in the country, the Kosovo Democratic Party, PDK. A former journalist from the newspaper Zeri, Blerim Shala, also joined PDK.

This was not the first time that Shala joined a political party. He was a member of parliament for Ramush Haradinaj’s Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, AAK, but continued as an independent MP after his party dismissed him in 2015, following his decision to join Kosovo’s negotiating team in Brussels.

The former BIRN and Koha Ditore newspaper journalist, Katriot Jahaj, has joined the newly established Alternative, saying he aims to contribute towards greater transparency.

“As a journalist I worked on justice, economic crimes and corruption. Entering politics, I believe I can contribute more to transparency and accountability,” Jahaj told BIRN.

Jahaj, who as part of civil society took part in many political activities against the local government in the city of Prizren, said he trusted the values of the political party he had joined, while admitting: “It is challenging, as the party has only just been established.”

“I believe I can contribute more by making political and public pressure,” Jahaj said.

Prime Minister Isa Mustafa’s Democratic League of Kosovo, LDK, on the other hand, has been able to convince the expert on economic issues, Lumir Abdixhiku, to join his party.

Driton Selmanaj, a political analyst, also joined Mustafa’s LDK on Wednesday.

The transfer that drew most attention in early May, however, was that of Arbana Xharra, former editor-in-chief of the Zeri newspaper, who resigned from journalism to join the PDK.

Xharra, who regularly criticized the former leader of the PDK, Hashim Thaci, now President of Kosovo, as well as the current leader, Kadri Veseli, said she now wanted to work on bringing change to politics.

“I want to bring new spirit into politics. I will continue to criticize from within. Moreover, Veseli has shown a pro-Western agenda. He has begun to criticize his party as well as reform it,” Xharra said on May 8, the day she officially joined the PDK.

Her decision drew criticism on social media, followed by a physical attack on May 13, when she was the victim of a beating by unknown perpetrators.

Halil Matoshi, another journalist and political analyst, has meanwhile joined Haradinaj’s AAK. Matoshi is a former editor-in-chief of the weekly Zeri, and a columnist at Koha Ditore newspaper.

At a press conference, Matoshi said that he made this decision based on the trust he feels in Haradinaj.

“It’s all about trust. I you don’t have trust, the results are weak,” Matoshi said, adding that politically he had only felt confidence in Kosovo’s late former President Ibrahim Rugova, and in Haradinaj.

“These two people gave me safety … We want to restore trust among Kosovo’s citizens,” Matoshi said.

Using journalism as a springboard to enter politics has been a feature of Kosovo political life for more than a decade.

In the past publishers and journalists such as Veton Surroi, Astrit Salihu, Dukagjin Gorani, Ylber Hysa, who all worked at the daily Koha Ditore, Margarita Kadriu, editor of the daily Kosovo Sot, and Berat Buzhala, editor of the daily Express, all made the shift from journalism to politics. None of them has left much of a trace in today’s Kosovo politics, however.

PDK, AAK and NISMA agreed to form a coalition on May 17 ahead of elections. Snap elections in Kosovo are due to be held on June 11, following the fall of Mustafa’s government and the dissolution of parliament.