Tetovo, 25 March 2023 (MIA) - Democratic Union for Integration (DUI) officials arrived at the party's HQ in Mala Rechica on Saturday for a session of the Central Presidency. The session's agenda is expected to include discussion on the “European front”. 

Ahead of the session, DUI's spokesperson Bujar Osmani confirmed that the party's officials will debate on the "European front" process, which was launched by DUI leader Ali Ahmeti. 

"We are at a critical point, at a crossroads where we must focus all forces and energy of the society to orient the country towards the EU. The citizens expect that from us. The citizens are looking for a better standard, work, higher wages, lookin to stay here, to plan their future here. All political processes should be directed towards the perspective brought by membership in the European Union," said Osmani.

This is the third meetin of DUI's Central Presidency after its new composition was elected in October 2022. 

A group of DUI members, called the "Fiery Group", published an open letter in late September, accusing there not being statutory bodies for two years and that party decision making has become individualistic. The letter detailed demands of an intra-party debate to overcome the situation and the leader of the party was called to use his authority to find a solution “to preserve the party's unity”.

“There is no debate, nor consultation with party bases. Staff elections turned into a privilege of Artan Grubi,” read the letter among other things. The signees, including Izet Mexhiti, Musa Xhaferi, Blerim Bezheti and others, pointed out that “the executive branch’s arrogance”, headed by the Deputy PM and Minister for Political System and Intercommunity Relations Artan Grubi caused “displeasure, revolt and passivity of the structures and voters”.

The Fiery Group then had a meeting in October with DUI’s management and they agreed to elect new management on October 15. However, despite the inclusion of the members of the Fiery Group in DUI’s top management, its members continued field activities, meeting with party members and voters across the country, to whom they present their commitments to party changes.

The DUI rift intensified, especially after Ahmeti assigned Bujar Osmani as coordinator of the Chair branch, a move the Fiery Group calls “unstatutory” because Izet Mexhiti is president of the Chair branch. They interpret this decision as a party elimination of their group and they announce similar steps to be taken towards other “disobedient coordinators”.

Photo: MIA archive