There are only a few days left until the deadline set by the Kosovo Constitutional Court for electing a new president – April 28 – but there are still no concrete signs of an agreement. In Kosovo, the president is elected by parliament, and candidates are usually the result of political compromise, not direct competition. If a president is not elected, a third parliamentary election must be held within a year.
Currently, Kosovo’s parties do not seem focused on finding a compromise to find an electable presidential candidate, but are mostly engaged in mutual accusations and shifting responsibility. Opposition parties accuse Self-Determination Movement (Vetëvendosje) of trying to buy time to impose its own candidate, while the ruling party claims that it is too early for new parliamentary elections and reproaches the opposition for not presenting candidates.
The ruling coalition of Vetëvendosje has 66 seats in parliament, while the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) has 22, the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) has 15, and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) has six. The first two rounds require 80 votes, and the previous attempt on March 5 failed to even secure a quorum. After parliament failed to elect a new president, former president Vjosa Osmani dissolved the parliament to pave the way for elections in April-May. However, the Constitutional Court overturned her decree, giving the party four more weeks, until April 28, to try to gather the two-thirds majority needed to elect a president. If that fails, parliamentary elections will be held within 45 days.
Prime Minister Albin Kurti and LDK leader Lumir Abdixhiku have held five meetings so far, giving the LDK hope that it could be invited to a power-sharing deal by the government. However, these meetings have not led to an agreement. The LDK has denied media speculation that it is negotiating a swap of institutional posts in exchange for support for a candidate backed by Vetëvendosje, stressing that the talks are aimed at securing a president. However, it has expressed a position that the next president should not be from Vetëvendosje, citing concerns about a concentration of power.
Kurti has not been in as much contact with PDK leader Bedri Hamza, who has asked that any invitation to a meeting be formalised in writing. The PDK is already preparing for elections, hoping that they will be held in June with a much lower voter turnout, which could increase the party’s parliamentary representation.
The third largest opposition parliamentary party, AAK, said it was not invited to talks and was completely ignored by the ruling party.
Analysts believe that the parties are positioning themselves to avoid responsibility if the presidential election process fails. Some analysts are paying particular attention to the possible reshuffle of the opposition landscape if former president Vjosa Osmani aligns herself politically with LDK leader Abdixhiku. LDK has recently expressed its readiness to welcome Osmani back as part of a broader party unity. Political analysts believe that a possible return of Vjosa Osmani to LDK would make an agreement between Vetëvendosje and LDK unlikely. Opposition parties are not motivated by reaching an agreement, as they are counting on possible early elections and the potential political impact of Vjosa Osmani’s possible return to active politics.
Civil society representatives warn that closed-door talks, unclear criteria for “consensus” and a lack of transparency are deepening distrust and public confusion as the deadline approaches.
Acting President Albulena Haxhiu has called on the parties to step up their efforts to reach an agreement on a president, stressing that time is short but that an agreement is still possible if there is political will.
In recent days, the ruling party has said it is open to compromise and expects concrete proposals for names. Prime Minister Albin Kurti has said that contacts with opposition leaders are continuing, but so far there has been no progress. However, analysts assess the chances of an agreement as limited, arguing that both Vetëvendosje and the LDK are simultaneously preparing their public narratives in case the process fails and the country goes to elections.
Kurti has shown no enthusiasm in the search for an eligible president, following his usual tactic of avoiding the media, keeping quiet and waiting for time to run out. He is unwilling to make even the most modest compromises on power-sharing and is ready to block Kosovo in its attempts to control all the levers of power.
While those interested in preserving the status quo are expected to be trying to buy time, the opposition’s inaction seems strange. It is unable to put forward a common candidate, shows no desire to take advantage of the situation and will probably count on trying its luck in a new election lottery.
The government in Pristina is using the last days of the current parliament to push through some of its own laws, but is leaving the economy in free fall. Inflation in Kosovo is among the highest in Europe, reaching 6.7% year-on-year in March. The IMF has lowered its economic growth forecasts due to inflation, falling exports and weakening private sector demand. Energy prices rose further in April, hitting all segments of society and the economy hard.
