Python-esque politics with Kosovo's satirical Strong Party

The Insider's Guide: Pristina, Kosovo — As Kosovo celebrates its seventh year of independence, we take a stroll through its creative capital, Pristina, and meet the political agitators, musicians, publishers and filmmakers rebuilding their city from the cafés up.

Kosovo, that small Balkan bolt-hole between Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia and Albania, is a place whose name (at least to many in the West) often brings to mind ‘conflict’ as much as ‘country’. And yet the war ended in 1999. With a huge diaspora (roughly one-third of the population live abroad), English is widespread and style in Pristina, the capital, is more Brooklyn than Balkan. And yet, despite these outside influences, Kosovans can only travel to a handful of countries due to visa restrictions. 

But if a city should cater foremost to its residents, then Pristina qualifies. There’s no tourist office, but there are flea markets in dusty car parks, book and pirate DVD stalls on the main square, beer for a euro and macchiato for half that. As for cafés: they’re everywhere.

One of these is Dit’ e Nat’ and it’s the focus of much creativity. Filmmakers, artists, musicians, students and magazine publishers congregate here to drink coffee, smoke and share ideas. And some politicians congregate here, too.

Visar Arifaj is leader of the Strong Party, a satirical outfit made up of a group of graphic designers. “It was one of those long drinking sessions,” he says, of their origins two years ago. “Everything in politics at that time just seemed ridiculous. It was such a mess. One night we decided to start our own political party. And for some reason, I became the president.”

Two years later, Visar – the so-called ‘Legendary Chairman’ – holds a seat in Pristina’s municipal government, with the party designing posters, selling T-shirts and organising fund-raising concerts. “It all sounded like a joke,” he says. “But we started to come up with these crazy ideas about what our speeches would be about and how the campaign would look and we really started to feel good.”

Visar and his creative cohorts started lampooning the system; they appeared on TV in jackets, ties and shorts and Visar presented himself as a quasi-militaristic autocrat who wanted to “come to power to control public money in the interest of supporters and the like-minded”.

Strong-Party-huck-3

They also highlighted the tendency of local politicians to pull the nationalistic card – pitting ‘Us Against Them’ (‘Them’ being Serbia and Serbs). The Strong Party logo mashes together the Albanian flag’s eagle with the muscular arms from a local gym’s logo. “We wanted to  ridicule the whole way nationalism is used to inspire people,” he says. “The feathers on the logo look like armpit hair.”

But it’s not all Python-esque posturing. Visar has used his seat in government to influence policy. “You can still be serious even if you express it in a satirical way,” he says. “We’ve managed to squeeze in some of our demands in exchange for our single vote and right now we are working on new bicycle pathways. I think they are welcoming our ideas.”

Reclaiming the city’s identity is a big focus, too. “Because we are all designers and artists, we feel it’s necessary to develop a
brand for Pristina.”

As a self-taught graphic designer, Visar credits the internet and pirated programs as empowering tools. “Once we are on the same level as developed countries we can negotiate on whether we think piracy is good or not, but in a country like Kosovo, piracy is the way to go!” Likewise, he says politics shouldn’t be left to politicians. “Astrophysicists study stars, doctors study medicine, politicians study political science,” he says. “And that’s the wrong way to look at it. Politics is about deciding about everyone’s life.”

“Kosovo has the chance to try something new,” he adds. “Not having a country already set up gives us the opportunity to come up with crazy new ideas. It needs a huge update. We need democracy 2.0.”

Pristina Symposiums

Community spaces can foster change. Visar Arifaj points out Pristina’s best.

The Pristina Hacker Space: “Young technology enthusiasts that are doing their best to promote technology and get everybody involved in it. It’s a gateway and an initiative I really love and I do my best to support.”

Rakia street: “Ever since I remember this street was full of small sketchy cafés. All the alcoholics would hang around and drink all day. Lately a lot of young people have been going here during the night. This is where the Strong Party got started.”

Tingo Tango: “Popular with young people and creative groups.”

Festivals: “SKENA UP, for film and theatre students. Pristina Jazz Festival is also a nice one. I think these are the two most important in Pristina. These festivals are the places where most of us combine and share ideas.”

This is the first part of our five-part Insider’s Guide to Pristina, Kosovo, which originally appeared in Huck 48 – The Origins Issue.

Grab a copy in the Huck Shop or subscribe today to make sure you don’t miss another issue.


Ad

Latest on Huck

Group of people dancing at a live music performance, with a large "Spaces Beats" sign in the background.
Music

Amid tensions in Eastern Europe, young Latvians are reviving their country’s folk rhythms

Spaces Between the Beats — The Baltic nation’s ancient melodies have long been a symbol of resistance, but as Russia’s war with Ukraine rages on, new generations of singers and dancers are taking them to the mainstream.

Written by: Jack Styler

A person's face surrounded by colourful flowers. The flowers include orange, red, and yellow dahlias, as well as smaller yellow blooms. The person's expression is serious.
Music

Uwade: “I was determined to transcend popular opinion”

What Made Me — In this series, we ask artists and rebels about the about the forces and experiences that shaped who they are. Today, it’s Nigerian-born, South Carolina-raised indie-soul singer Uwade.

Written by: Uwade

Taxidermy alligator with a small monkey sitting on its head, displayed on a wooden shelf with other items.
Culture

Inside the obscured, closeted habitats of Britain’s exotic pets

“I have a few animals...” — For his new series, photographer Jonty Clark went behind closed doors to meet rare animal owners, finding ethical grey areas and close bonds.

Written by: Hannah Bentley

Muscular man with arms crossed in a dark setting, 'Hard Feelings' text overlay.
Sport

Frazer Clarke: “I had a hole in my leg, I’m very lucky to be alive”

Hard Feelings — For our interview column on masculinity and fatherhood, the Olympic boxing medallist speaks to Robert Kazandjian about hard graft, the fear and triumph of his first fight, and returning to the ring after being stabbed on a night out.

Written by: Robert Kazandjian

Close-up view of a woman in a vintage pose, with flowing hair and an outstretched hand, set against a hazy, scenic background.
© Peter Palladino, courtesy of the Peter Palladino Archive.
Culture

Remembering Holly Woodlawn, Andy Warhol muse and trans trailblazer

Love You Madly — A new book explores the actress’s rollercoaster life and story, who helped inspire Lou Reed’s ‘Walk on the Wild Side’.

Written by: Miss Rosen

Crushed Burger King cup, playing card, caution tape on cracked pavement.
Culture

This photographer picked up 1,000 weed baggies in New York and documented them

0.125OZ — Since originally stumbling across a discarded bag in Brooklyn, Vincent ”Streetadelic” Pflieger has amassed a huge archive of marijuana packaging, while inadvertently capturing a moment as cannabis went from an illicit, underground drug to big business.

Written by: Isaac Muk

Signup to our newsletter

Sign up to our newsletter to informed with the cutting edge of sport, music and counterculture, featuring personal takes on the state of media and pop culture from Emma Garland, former Digital Editor of Huck, exclusive interviews, recommendations and more.

Please wait...

Accessibility Settings

Text

Applies the Open Dyslexic font, designed to improve readability for individuals with dyslexia.

Applies a more readable font throughout the website, improving readability.

Underlines links throughout the website, making them easier to distinguish.

Adjusts the font size for improved readability.

Visuals

Reduces animations and disables autoplaying videos across the website, reducing distractions and improving focus.

Reduces the colour saturation throughout the website to create a more soothing visual experience.

Increases the contrast of elements on the website, making text and interface elements easier to distinguish.