Memli Krasniqi

Memli Krasniqi
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development
In office 9 December 2014 – 10 August 2017
Preceded by	Blerand Stavileci
Succeeded by	Nenad Rikalo
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports
In office 2011-2014
Preceded by	Lutfi Haziri
Succeeded by	Kujtim Shala
Personal details
Born	25 January 1980 (age 35) Prishtina, former Yugoslavia (now Kosovo)
Political party	Democratic Party of Kosovo
Alma mater	London School of Economics, University of Prishtina
Occupation	Politician,Former Rapper
Website	http://www.mbpzhr-ks.net/

Memli Krasniqi (born 25 January 1980) is a Kosovar Albanian politician who has been Vice-President of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) since February 2013. Krasniqi has previously been Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development (2014-2017) and Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports from (2011-2014).

Krasniqi was a rapper before politics and was part of the group Ritmi i Rrugës.

Early life and education

Memli Krasniqi was born in Mitrovica, where he finished the "Hasan Prishtina" primary school and the "Xhevdet Doda" gymnasium. He graduated with a BA in Political Science and Public Administration in the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Prishtina and obtained an MSc degree in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). He is also a PhD condidate at the Center for Albanian studies of the Institute of History, Albania. Among his publication there is "Bektashi Cultural Heritage and Albanians".^[1][2]

During 1999 and 2000, he worked as a journalist for the American news agency Associated Press and in 2002 he served as a Director for Public Relations at the Telemedicine Centre of Kosovo.

For many years he was active in the music industry and worked in different musical projects, mostly as a songwriter and a member of the hip-hop group Ritmi i Rrugës.

Political career

Krasniqi was actively engaged in politics with the PDK since 2004, initially leading the Centre for Political Studies within the cabinet of the Chairman of the party, Hashim Thaçi.

Upon the establishment of PDK's Cabinet for Good Governance, Krasniqi was appointed to lead the Department of Youth and in October 2006 he was elected the Chairman of the Democratic Youth of Kosovo - the youth organization of PDK that represents its members aged 16-30. From this position, he was also a member of the Presidency of PDK. In February 2013, Krasniqi was elected Vice-President of PDK for Organizational and Youth Issues.

In the 2007 parliamentary elections, Krasniqi was elected a Member of the Assembly of Kosovo and served as a member in the Committee for Education, Science, Culture, Youth and Sports. In October 2008 he was appointed a Political Adviser to the Prime Minister and Spokesperson of the Government.

Krasniqi was re-elected to the Assembly of Kosovo in the 2010 parliamentary elections and was appointed Minister in the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports in February 2011. He was re-elected again in the 2014 parliamentary elections and was appointed Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development in December 2014.

Personal life

Memli Krasniqi lives in Prishtina with his wife Meliza and children Bora, Mal and Vera.

References

http://www.mbpzhr-ks.net/en/minister