View source for Democratic Party of Kosovo

{{Short description|Kosovar political party}}
{{distinguish|Democratic League of Kosovo}}
{{Update |date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox political party
| country          = Kosovo
| name             = Democratic Party of Kosovo
| native_name      = Partia Demokratike e Kosovës
| logo             = File:Partia Demokratike e Kosovës.svg
| abbreviation     = PDK
| colorcode        = {{Party color|Democratic Party of Kosovo}}
| chairman         = [[Bedri Hamza]] 
| leader1_title    = {{nowrap|[[Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo|Parliamentary leader]]}}
| leader1_name     = Abelard Tahiri
| founders         = [[Hashim Thaçi]]
| foundation       = {{start date and age|1999|10|10|df=yes}}
| ideology         = {{ubl|class=nowrap|
 |[[National conservatism]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Korhonen|first=Jani|date=3 October 2019|title=Kosovan Elections: Fractured Alliances Cast Long Political Shadows|url=https://europeelects.eu/2019/10/03/kosovan-elections-fractured-alliances-cast-long-political-shadows/|website=[[Europe Elects]]}}</ref>
 |[[Social conservatism]]<ref name="fes-prishtina.org"/>
 |[[Economic liberalism]]<ref name="fes-prishtina.org">{{cite book|url=http://www.fes-prishtina.org/pdf/final_draft_en.pdf|title=Political Parties in Kosova&nbsp;&ndash; Profile and Ideology|publisher=Çelnaja|date=15 April 2008|last1=Zulfaj|first1=Jeton|last2=Mulliqi|first2=Brikena|last3=Shala|first3=Mentor|last4=Tahiri|first4=Petrit|access-date=27 December 2019|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304032858/http://www.fes-prishtina.org/pdf/final_draft_en.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
 |[[Unification of Albania and Kosovo|Kosovo–Albania unionism]]<ref>[https://www.dw.com/en/greater-albania-bogeyman-or-a-pipe-dream/a-38705227 Greater Albania - bogeyman or a pipe dream?], Deutsche Welle, 2017-05-04 (in English)</ref>
 |[[Pro-Europeanism]]
 |'''Until {{circa|2013}}:'''
 |[[Social democracy]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Nordsieck|first=Wolfram|date=2014|url=http://www.parties-and-elections.eu/kosovo.html|title=Kosovo|website=Parties and Elections in Europe|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117071234/http://www.parties-and-elections.eu/kosovo.html|archive-date=17 January 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>
 |[[Social liberalism]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Nordsieck|first=Wolfram|date=2014|url=http://parties-and-elections.eu/kosovo.html|title=Kosovo|website=Parties and Elections in Europe|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140928071901/http://parties-and-elections.eu/kosovo.html|archive-date=28 September 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>}}
| position         = {{nowrap|[[Centre-right politics|Centre-right]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-kosovo-elections-idUSKBN1910ZO|title=Kosovo centre-right coalition on course to win parliamentary vote|date=11 June 2017|publisher=Reuters|website=reuters.com}}</ref> to [[Right-wing politics|right-wing]]{{refn|<ref name="fes-prishtina.org"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.csis.org/programs/european-election-watch/kosovo|title=Kosovo&nbsp;<nowiki>| European Election Watch</nowiki>|publisher=[[Center for Strategic and International Studies]]|year=2019}}</ref><br />'''Until {{circa|2013}}:'''<br />[[Centre-left]]<ref>{{cite news|last=Hoare|first=Liam|date=20 February 2013|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/02/why-kosovo-still-matters/273341/|title=Why Kosovo Still Matters|url-access=limited|work=[[The Atlantic]]}}</ref>}}}}
| international    = [[Liberal International]]
| regional         = [[Liberal South East European Network]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-14 |title=PDK anëtarësohet në rrjetin e Partive Liberale të Evropës Juglindore |url=https://kallxo.com/lajm/pdk-anetaresohet-ne-rrjetin-e-partive-liberale-te-evropes-juglindore/ |access-date=2022-05-15 |website=Raporto Korrupsionin! KALLXO.com |language=en}}</ref>
| europarl         = 
| european         = [[Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party|ALDE Party]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Liberal leaders discuss key issues at ALDE Party Council Meeting |url=https://www.aldeparty.eu/liberal_leaders_discuss_key_issues_at_alde_party_council_meeting |website=ALDE Party |language=en}}</ref><br>[[European Conservatives and Reformists Party|ECR Party]] (until 2022)
| flag             = Flag of the Democratic Party of Kosovo.svg
| seats1_title     = [[Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo|Assembly]]
| seats1           = {{Composition bar|24|120|hex=#2e96d2}}
| seats2_title     = [[Municipalities of Kosovo|Mayors]]
| seats2           = {{Composition bar|6|38|{{Party color|Democratic Party of Kosovo}}}}
| seats3_title     = [[Municipalities of Kosovo|Municipal councils]]
| seats3           = {{Composition bar|208|994|{{Party color|Democratic Party of Kosovo}}}}
| colours          = {{color box|{{Party color|Democratic Party of Kosovo}}|border=darkgray}} [[Sky blue]]
| headquarters     = [[Pristina]]
| youth_wing       = Rinia Demokratike e Kosovës
| womens_wing      = Gruaja Demokratike e Kosovës
| website          = {{url|http://www.pdk.info}}
}}
{{Politics of Kosovo}}
The '''Democratic Party of Kosovo''' ({{langx|sq|Partia Demokratike e Kosovës}}; '''PDK''') is one of the largest [[List of political parties in Kosovo|political parties]] in [[Kosovo]]. It was originally a [[social-democratic]] party coming out of the [[demilitarisation|demilitarised]] [[Kosovo Liberation Army]] after the [[Kosovo War]], with most of the leadership coming from Albanian nationalists and former members of the [[People's Movement of Kosovo]]. However, during its congress in January 2013, it positioned itself as a centre-right party and is considered to be a conservative party.<ref>{{citation|date=27 January 2013|publisher=Gazeta Express|language=sq|title=PDK profilizohet si parti e Qendrës së Djathtë (DPK positions itself as a center-right party)|url=http://www.gazetaexpress.com/?cid=1,13,102412}}</ref><ref>{{citation| date=2013-01-27 | publisher= Koha TV|language= sq|title=PDK, parti e qendrës së djathtë (DPK, a centre-right party)|url=http://www.koha.net/?page=1%2C13%2C132477}}</ref>
The Democratic Party of Kosovo is headed by [[Memli Krasniqi|Bedri Hamza]] since 17 November 2025.

== History ==
The party was founded on 10 October 1999 from the political wing of the [[Kosovo Liberation Army]] as the Party for the Democratic Progress of Kosovo (''Partia për Progres Demokratik e Kosovës''), but was renamed on 21 May 2000. The party has increased in size and regional scope, initially winning the elections of 2007 and winning most of the regional elections in the municipal elections of 2009. PDK renewed its governing mandate after winning the elections of 2010.<ref>[http://www.ddh.nl/fy/kosova/reports/2000/bpt-k-monthly1906.html dDH's 'Hope'; Kosova Crisis 2000; BPT-Reports: Monthly report # 15<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> {{Wikisource|Executive Order 13219}}
[[File:Democratic Party of Kosovo.svg|thumb|274x274px|1999 Logo of the Democratic Party of Kosovo]]
Members of the Party for the Democratic Progress of Kosovo (which was later called the Democratic Party of Kosovo) were blacklisted by the US under then-[[President of the United States|President]] [[George W. Bush]] in 2001.<ref>[[Wikisource:Executive Order 13219]]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://fedbbs.access.gpo.gov/library/fac_bro/balkans.txt |title=Archived copy |access-date=2010-12-23 |archive-date=2011-09-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927082937/http://fedbbs.access.gpo.gov/library/fac_bro/balkans.txt |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In the 2004 [[legislative]] [[elections in Kosovo|elections]], the party won 28.9% of the popular vote and 30 out of 120 seats in the [[Assembly of Kosovo]]; in 2007 PDK won a majority for the first time with 35% of the vote. In 2010's disputed elections, PDK won again with 32% of the vote.

After 14 years of leadership of Hashim Thaçi who had to resign from party leadership to take the position of the President of the country, in May 2016, Parliament Speaker [[Kadri Veseli]] became party president by acclamation. He was elected with no votes against and no abstentions.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Matoshi|first1=Albatrit|title=Kadri Velseli kryetar i ri i PDK-së|url=http://zeri.info/aktuale/89177/kadri-velseli-kryetar-i-ri-i-pdk-se/|access-date=7 May 2016|work=Zëri|date=7 May 2016}}</ref>

=== Elections in 2010 ===
[[2010 Kosovan parliamentary election|Parliamentary elections]] were held on 12 December 2010, the first such elections organized in Kosovo since their declaration of independence. After early results, [[Hashim Thaçi]], who was on course to gain 32 per cent of the vote, claimed victory for PDK, the Democratic Party of Kosovo. He said he intended to continue governing for another 4 years. After accusations of vote-rigging, voting was repeated in several municipalities. With more than 30 per cent of the vote, Thaçi formed a coalition with the [[New Kosovo Alliance]], led by the ex-president, [[Behgjet Pacolli]]. It was in fourth place with 8 percent of the popular vote.

The turnout at the election was significantly higher than usual, augmented by Serbs who decided to vote in the disputed republic.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120731072048/http://www.euractiv.com/en/enlargement/hashim-tha-claims-victory-kosovo-elections-news-500526 Agencies: "Ex-guerrilla chief claims victory in Kosovo election"], Euractiv.</ref> Following the confirmation of the final election results, PDK and AKR formed a government with a program dedicated to [[European Union|EU]] integrations. The new government included many of the younger generation of PDK members, such as Bedri Hamza, [[Memli Krasniqi]], [[Vlora Çitaku]], Blerand Stavileci, [[Petrit Selimi]], etc.

== Controversies ==
{{Criticism section|date=December 2022}}
MPs Rrustem Mustafa and Latif Gashi resigned their offices in 2015 after receiving confirmed sentenced for war crimes.<ref>{{cite web|title=Edhe Rrustem Mustafa dorëzon mandatin e deputetit|url=http://www.telegrafi.com/lajme/edhe-rrustem-mustafa-dorezon-mandatin-e-deputetit-2-76000.html|website=Telegrafi.com|access-date=7 February 2016|archive-date=3 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203122006/http://www.telegrafi.com/lajme/edhe-rrustem-mustafa-dorezon-mandatin-e-deputetit-2-76000.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In April 2016, PDK MP Azem Syla was sought for arrest in connection to a large criminal group which appropriated socially owned property located in Prishtina’s suburbs amounting 30 million EUR.<ref>{{cite web|title=Police raids the home of former KLA leader and MP Azem Syla|url=http://prishtinainsight.com/police-raids-home-former-kla-leader-mp-azem-syla/|website=Prishtina Insight|date=27 April 2016|publisher=BIRN Kosovo|access-date=28 April 2016}}</ref>

Seven out of ten current mayors belonging to the PDK have been investigated, charged or convicted of abuse of office and other criminal activity. Sami Lushtaku of Skenderaj has been sentenced to 12 years for war crimes while he is being investigated for a corruption case. He ran for mayoral reelections and is serving in office both from prison. Nexhat Demaku of Drenas has been sentenced to one year and is being investigated in another case. Salim Jenuzi of Dragash was charged but found not guilty. Bajram Mulaku of Vushtrria and Begzad Sinani of Kamenica were investigated but not charged. Sinani is again under investigation for alleged illegal hunting. Former Lipjan mayor Shukri Buja was sentenced to four months suspended imprisonment for not declaring property to the Anti-Corruption agency, while Vitia Mayor Nexhmedin Arifi to 18 months suspended imprisonment for misuse of official position.<ref name="Koha mayors">{{cite news|title=Pak nga kryetarët e komunave që udhëhiqen nga PDK-ja nuk e shkelën ligjin|url=https://koha.net/?id=27&l=97127|access-date=7 February 2016|work=KOHAnet|publisher=KOHA|date=5 February 2016}}</ref> Xhabir Zharku of Kaçanik was convicted to three years in prison for threats related to a privatisation case and illegal possession of a firearm forcing him to resign his position but was allowed to escape to Sweden where he now lives.<ref>{{cite news|title=Përpëlitjet e Xhabirit|url=http://www.gazetaexpress.com/arkiva/p-235-rp-235-litjet-e-xhabirit-94608|access-date=7 February 2016|work=Gazeta Express|publisher=MediaWorks|date=19 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160208060528/http://www.gazetaexpress.com/arkiva/p-235-rp-235-litjet-e-xhabirit-94608|archive-date=8 February 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Ramadan Muja of Prizren was convicted by a court of first instance. The case has been returned to retrial meanwhile Muja has run for and won a second term as mayor.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kryeziu|first1=Petrit|title=Supremja Kthen në Apel Vendimin për Ramadan Mujën|url=http://kallxo.com/supremja-kthen-ne-apel-vendimin-per-ramadan-mujen/|access-date=7 February 2016|work=[[Kallxo]]|publisher=BIRN|date=24 December 2015}}</ref> Former Ferizaj Mayor Bajrush Xhemajli started serving a two-year sentence in 2014 after being convicted for killing a person in a traffic accident in 2009.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bajrush Xhemajli shkon në vuajtje të dënimit me burg|url=http://www.telegrafi.com/lajme/bajrush-xhemajli-shkon-ne-vuajtje-te-denimit-me-burg-2-53747.html|access-date=7 February 2016|work=Telegrafi.com|date=17 November 2014|archive-date=8 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160208012133/http://www.telegrafi.com/lajme/bajrush-xhemajli-shkon-ne-vuajtje-te-denimit-me-burg-2-53747.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The prosecution also investigated the former mayor of Gjilan Qemal Mustafa for road tenders but did not file charges. Sokol Bashota of Klina was being investigated for abuse of office in 2016.<ref name="Koha mayors" />

In 2000 the brother of PDK leader Hashim Thaçi Gani Thaçi was found during a raid in Prishtina with a million German marks (500,000 euros) in cash. The origin of the money was uncertain.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mappes-Niediek|first1=Norbert|title=Wundersamer Waschsalon|url=http://www.zeit.de/2001/49/Wundersamer_Waschsalon|access-date=7 February 2016|work=Die Ziet|issue=49/2001|date=29 November 2001}}</ref>

Former Interior Minister Bajram Rexhepi was in office when about 1.5 million euros were embezzled is a case related to the production of passports by an Austrian company. Later about 200,000 of them were discovered in a chauffeur of Kadri Veseli.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wölfl|first1=Adelheid|title=Neuer Anlauf für Kosovo-Pässe|url=http://derstandard.at/1356427710952/Neuer-Anlauf-fuer-Kosovo-Paesse|access-date=7 February 2016|publisher=Der Standard|date=14 January 2013}}</ref> Adem Grabovci, leader of PDK parliamentary group, was involved in the "Pronto" scandal, a leak of audio recordings of an EULEX investigation, in which Adem Grabovci, Hashim Thaçi and Vlora Çitaku discuss employment of an uncle of Grabovci, Curr Gjoci. Shortly afterwards, Gjoci was appointed Director of the University Clinical Centre in Prishtina. In another scandal Grabovci's sons beat several police officers. They were sentenced to a prison sentence of six months which converted to 3,000 EUR fine each.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dënohen djemtë e Adem Grabovcit|url=http://www.telegrafi.com/lajme/denohen-djemte-e-adem-grabovcit-80-9661.html|access-date=7 February 2016|work=Telegrafi.com|date=18 May 2015|archive-date=8 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160208013039/http://www.telegrafi.com/lajme/denohen-djemte-e-adem-grabovcit-80-9661.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Leader of PDK, 1999–present ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|--
! #
! President
! Portrait
! Born–Died
! Term start
! Term end
! Time in office
|--
! style="background:#27A1ED; color:white;" | 1
| [[Hashim Thaçi]]
| [[File:Hashim Thaçi MSC 2018 (cropped).jpg|80px]]
| 1968–
| 27 October 1999
| 26 February 2016
| {{ayd|1999|10|27|2016|2|26}}
|--
! style="background:#27A1ED; color:white;" | 2
| [[Kadri Veseli]]
| [[File:Kadri Veseli 2017.jpg|80px]]
| 1967–
| 9 March 2016
| 5 November 2020
| {{ayd|2016|3|9|2020|11|5}}
|--
! style="background:#27A1ED; color:white;" | {{Abbr|Act.|Acting}}
| [[Enver Hoxhaj]]
| [[File:Enver Hoxhaj 2013.jpg|80px]]
| 1969–
| 5 November 2020
| 3 July 2021
| {{ayd|2020|11|5|2021|7|3}}
|--
! style="background:#27A1ED; color:white;" | 3
| [[Memli Krasniqi]]
| [[File:22 01 2015 7493659 memli krasniqi.jpg|80px]]
| 1980–
| 3 July 2021
| 17 November 2025
| {{ayd|2021|7|3|2025|11|17}}
|--
! style="background:#27A1ED; color:white;" | 4
| [[Bedri Hamza]]
| [[File:Bedri Hamza.jpg|80px]]
| 1963–
| 17 November 2025
| Present
| {{ayd|2025|11|17}}
|}

==Election results==
{| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
!Year
!Votes
!%
!Overall seats won
!Albanian seats
!Position
!+/–
!Coalition
!Government
!Leader
|-
![[2001 Kosovan parliamentary election|2001]]
|202,622
|25.7%
|{{Composition bar|26|120|hex=#2e96d2}}
|{{Composition bar|26|100|hex=#2e96d2}}
|2nd
|{{increase}} 26
|''—''
|{{yes2|Coalition}}
|rowspan="5"|[[Hashim Thaçi]]
|-
![[2004 Kosovan parliamentary election|2004]]
|199,112
|28.3%
|{{Composition bar|30|120|hex=#2e96d2}}
|{{Composition bar|30|100|hex=#2e96d2}}
|{{steady}} 2nd
|{{increase}} 4
|''—''
|{{no2|Opposition}}
|-
![[2007 Kosovan parliamentary election|2007]]
|196,207
|34.3%
|{{Composition bar|37|120|hex=#2e96d2}}
|{{Composition bar|37|100|hex=#2e96d2}}
|{{increase}} 1st
|{{increase}} 7
|''—''
|{{yes2|Coalition}}
|-
![[2010 Kosovan parliamentary election|2010]]
|224,339
|32.1%
|{{Composition bar|34|120|hex=#2e96d2}}
|{{Composition bar|34|100|hex=#2e96d2}}
|{{steady}} 1st
|{{decrease}} 3
|''—''
|{{yes2|Coalition}}
|-
![[2014 Kosovan parliamentary election|2014]]
|222,181
|30.4%
|{{Composition bar|37|120|hex=#2e96d2}}
|{{Composition bar|37|100|hex=#2e96d2}}
|{{steady}} 1st
|{{increase}} 3
|''—''
|{{yes2|Coalition}}
|-
![[2017 Kosovan parliamentary election|2017]]
|245,646
|33.74%
|{{Composition bar|23|120|hex=#2e96d2}}
|{{Composition bar|23|100|hex=#2e96d2}}
|{{decrease}} 3rd
|{{decrease}} 14
|[[PANA coalition|PANA]]
|{{yes2|Coalition}}
|rowspan="2"|[[Kadri Veseli]]
|-
![[2019 Kosovan parliamentary election|2019]]
|178,637
|21.2%
|{{Composition bar|24|120|hex=#2e96d2}}
|{{Composition bar|24|100|hex=#2e96d2}}
|{{steady}} 3rd
|{{increase}} 1
|''—''
|{{no2|Opposition}}
|-
![[2021 Kosovan parliamentary election|2021]]
|148,285
|17.0%
|{{Composition bar|19|120|hex=#2e96d2}}
|{{Composition bar|19|100|hex=#2e96d2}}
|{{Increase}} 2nd
|{{decrease}} 5
|''—''
|{{no2|Opposition}}
|[[Enver Hoxhaj]]
|-
![[2025 Kosovan parliamentary election|2025]]
|196,353
|20.96%
|{{Composition bar|24|120|hex=#2e96d2}}
|{{Composition bar|24|100|hex=#2e96d2}}
|{{steady}} 2nd
|{{increase}} 5
|''—''
|
|[[Bedri Hamza]]
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Kosovo political parties}}
[[Category:Full member parties of the Liberal International|Kosovo]]
[[Category:Political parties in Kosovo]]
[[Category:National conservative parties]]
[[Category:Socially conservative parties]]
[[Category:1999 establishments in Kosovo]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1999]]
[[Category:Pro-European political parties in Kosovo]]