Situation in Kosovo/ Hasimja: Political parties should find some kind of formula for electing the president

2026-03-06 22:00:00, Politikë CNA

Situation in Kosovo/ Hasimja: Political parties should find some kind of formula

Political scientist Ermal Hasimja commented extensively today on the difficult political situation in which Kosovo finds itself, regarding the issue of electing a new president, which could lead the country towards early elections.

Invited to A2 CNN, Hasimja stated that the issue in this case is not only about political decision-making, but also a legal debate that has already been opened.

According to the political scientist, a kind of formula that can bring a solution can also be found by the political parties themselves, for the maximum interest of the country.

"It is something that comes from the clash of two objectives, two egos. Mr. Kurti wants to somehow take over the institution of the presidency. Meanwhile, Mrs. Osmani would like to continue. Even more so since she has felt encouraged recently, perhaps with the encouragement and points she probably received from the meeting with Trump and Secretary Rubio. So I believe that both sides have thought that they are in their right.

In this specific case, the issue has now become a legal debate that will have to be decided within the legal framework. But what is interesting is that I think that beyond that, we are leaving aside the personal ambition of Mrs. Osmani, which is in her legitimate right, but we are also looking at Mr. Kurti's part.

I think that given the way the political forces in Kosovo are structured, it would have been more reasonable to have a consensual president, because it is not like the case of Albania, where you have two major forces, the DP and the SP, things are simpler there in a way and the theory that the winner takes all makes sense, but in the case of Kosovo, that is not the case. In the case of Kosovo, you have a greater fragmentation of the parliamentary scene and even more so in the situation where Kosovo is the one that needs extra internal legitimacy, especially after what happened in the last 12 months with the rerun of other elections.

I think that even within the framework of discussion, debates and negotiations, of all forms, dialogue, etc., the president should actually have the broadest possible basis of legitimacy. Perhaps the parties can also find some kind of formula. There are different formulas.

"Maybe it would have been good to have someone outside the parties to give it some kind of additional legitimacy, especially if it was a trustworthy person, a person with values, for example from civil society. That would be something very positive. But these are the positions. They are not illegal or dishonest positions, they are legitimate positions. There is a difference between what is politically legitimate and legal and what is in the maximum interest of the country," Hasimja said. /CNA