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Youth and politicians debate over accountability, youth demand accountability regarding electoral promises

24.01.2017

Today on an event organized by the KDI, three members of the Assembly of Kosovo, Mrs. Vjosa Osmani (LDK), Mrs. Xhevahire Izmaku (PDK), Mr. Ilir Deda (independent MP) and Deputy Mayor of Mitrovica Mr. Faruk Mujka (VV) discussed with students and young people of Mitrovica in a public debate. This event aimed at promoting the involvement of young people to seek accountability from their elected representatives. MP Vjosa Osmani, during her speech said that Kosovo has made progress in recent years in terms of accountability and transparency of MPs towards citizens. More precisely she stated that social networks have led to increased civic activism and increase of accountability by politicians. Mrs. Osmani emphasized that young people should respond on collective manner rather than an individual opinion, so their complaints or requests addressed to MPs to have a serious treatment leading to a better way of use. MP Xhevahire Izmaku, has considered that in Kosovo accountability and transparency as culture is not evolved and everyone should put more work more so this culture is built. She stressed that if there were division of electoral zones, transparency and accountability to voters would be higher. MP Izmaku has committed to raise in the Kosovo Assembly the issue of student scholarships of the Public University of Mitrovica who complained that the scholarship fee is lower comparing to the scholarships of University of Prishtina. MP Ilir Deda, spoke about the role of MPs considering that a member has more responsibility towards citizens than the party that they represent for the sole fact that they were voted directly from citizens. According to him, the party is irrelevant when it comes to citizen interests. Mr. Deda has also stressed that the education is very important and it does not allow a politician to become the slave of a political party. Deputy Mayor of Mitrovica Mr. Faruk Mujka, highlighted that transparency and accountability are two very important features that should be cultivated to Kosovo youth since older generations have forgotten the meaning of these features. According to him these are the two pillars of a democratic state and also the international standard that many countries face as a challenge. Panelists also respond to the great interest of students on many issues related to transparency but also the recent political developments in the country. This debate was organized with the support of the British Embassy in Pristina in the framework of the project “Empowering young voters to take an informed decision, and helping them to hold politicians to account.