Pristina Mayor Quits Opposition Vetevendosje Party

Pristina's mayor Shpend Ahmeti resigned from the main Kosovo opposition party, Vetevendosje, late on Wednesday, several months after he won his second mandate as its mayoral candidate - highighting serious internal problems within the party.

"Disagreements have harmed the spirit, faith, and consequently the cause [of Vetevendosje]. I no longer believe that the organization in its present state is the fastest path to change, at least not in line with my attitudes and beliefs," Ahmeti wrote in his resignation letter, which was published by Kosovo media.

The recent resignations of other dissatisfied members has posed the biggest challenge to Vetevendosje in its 12-year history.

Cracks within the party emerged in December when a newspaper published text messages sent to a group of Vetevendosje MPs, revealing heated internal arguments and insults directed at its leader Albin Kurti by MP Aida Derguti.

Several MPs have since resigned from their party leadership positions, including former party leader Visar Ymeri and former general secretary Dardan Molliqaj, over internal disputes and interpersonal clashes.

Before he resigned, Ahmeti and MP Glauk Konjufca had committed themselves to negotiate with the two squabbling groups within the party in order to find a solution and avoid a final split.

"After the recent happenings in Vetevendosje, [the resignation] was something expected to a degree, given that he was one of the main people who tried the hardest to keep Vetevendosje together," Vetevendosje MP Fisnik Ismaili told BIRN.

Another Vetevendosje MP, Albulena Haxiu, complained that activists and volunteers had worked non-stop to help Ahmeti to win a second mandate as Pristina's mayor at polls last October and then a run-off vote in...