Kosovan prosecutors have indicted 11 people from the ruling Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) formerly led by President Hashim Thaci for allegedly handing out state jobs to people based on their political affiliation. 

The case is based on wiretaps made in 2011 during an anticorruption operation by the EU police and justice mission (EULEX), which were set up after Kosovo's 1998-99 independence war to strengthen rule of law in the country. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008.

The case was dubbed “Pronto” in the local press because in one of the recordings Thaci answered his phone to a fellow PDK official with the Italian word “Pronto”. The PDK has been in power since 2007 in various coalition formations. 

Those indicted were identified only by their initials, but they include “current Minister B.B.” — presumably Innovation and Entrepreneurship Minister Besim Beqaj — as well as one sitting and one former MP, and former directors of public enterprises Radoniqi-Dukagjini and Hidro-Drini. 

"The indictment is related to criminal activities of hiring, sharing official positions based on party affiliations and friendly connections,” an April 6 statement published on the Kosovan state prosecutor’s website said. 

The accused allegedly "worked in co-perpetration...granting unlawful privileges and advantages" to people seeking posts in government agencies and public firms, the article said.

Fighting organised crime and corruption is one of the pre-conditions for Kosovo to make further progress towards EU integration, in addition to the ratification of its border demarcation deal with Montenegro.