Extreme political degradation/ Kosovo towards extraordinary elections

2025-11-19 19:04:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

"Extreme degradation of political and institutional life in Kosovo" - this is how Albert Krasniqi from the Democracy Plus organization describes the second failed attempt by the Kosovo Assembly to vote for the new Government.

He emphasizes that politicians are placing personal and party interests above those of the state, showing a clear lack of responsibility and commitment to the citizens who elected them.

"This indicates a low level of responsibility of the political class in the country, regardless of whether it is in power or opposition. Everyone has their own share of the blame," Krasniqi tells Radio Free Europe.

The Kosovo Assembly failed on November 19 to approve the new Government, which would be led by Glauk Konjufca of the Vetëvendosje Movement.

56 MPs voted in favor of forming the Government according to the Vetëvendosje proposal, 4 abstained, while 53 were against.

This was Vetëvendosje's second attempt to form a government, following the failure of the first candidate, Albin Kurti, on October 26.

According to the Constitution, if even the second-term candidate fails to form a government, the country's president, Vjosa Osmani, must announce new elections, which must be held within 40 days from the date of the announcement.

Radio Free Europe asked the Office of the Presidency about the possible timing of the announcement of the elections, but did not receive a response.

Belgzim Kamberi, from the Musine Kokolari Institute for Social Policy, is not optimistic that new elections can bring a real solution to the political impasse.

"It remains to be seen what positions and political narratives Albanian parties will enter the upcoming elections with, because most of the actors are almost the same. We do not have an extraordinary climate that could radically change parliamentary representation," Kamberi tells Radio Free Europe.

Kosovo has been on the path of crisis since the parliamentary elections on February 9. Vetëvendosje won the majority of votes, but not enough to form a government alone.

The Assembly was delayed in being constituted for about six months due to political disagreements, while the process was challenged several times in the Constitutional Court.

The international community - including the German chief diplomat, Johann Wadephul, recently - has repeatedly stressed the need for Kosovo to have a stable government as soon as possible.

According to Kamberi, recent months have not seen a major involvement of the international factor, which, "in one way or another, has always been involved in building Kosovo's governments."

"International non-involvement has not helped the process, because it has not been possible to create a parliamentary majority," according to him.

Kamberi adds that after the new elections, and with the presidential election expected in the spring, it is difficult to foresee the formation of a government without the two main Albanian parties.

According to him, it also remains unclear who these two parties would be and whether they would be able to cooperate without the facilitation of the international factor.

"So, these elections should be seen as opportunities to try new paradigms, to avoid a new deadlock," he adds.

After the failure to form a government on November 19, representatives of political parties resumed accusing each other.

Those from Vetëvendosje said that "everyone has barricaded themselves against" their leader, Albin Kurti.

Memli Krasniqi of PDK, the second largest party in the country, blamed Vetëvendosje for the situation, stressing that "9 months of time have been lost" due to blockades, delays, and tactics.

And, Krasniqi from Demokraci Plus warns that the losses for Kosovo are great, especially for the country's international reputation.

"A country that has urgent needs and its politicians fail to compromise to address them! We emerge as an incompetent state in the international aspect, due to the lack of political agreement, which is essential for a democracy, when none of the parties has a parliamentary majority," says Krasniqi.

He also mentions financial losses due to the non-approval of the budget, as well as international agreements that bring funds and loans to the country.

During the day, Vetëvendosje organized another session to approve four key draft laws, including the state budget for next year and international agreements, but this attempt also failed.

"We have fallen behind, both in defense and in the fight against disinformation and other threats that Western democracies face. Other countries are taking the necessary steps, while Kosovo continues with provincial battles," concludes Krasniqi./ Rel