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Kosovo’s Crucial Parliamentary Election: A Pivotal Moment for the Future
Kosovo is set to hold a parliamentary election on Sunday, marking a significant milestone in the young nation’s political journey. This election is not just another political event but a crucial test for Prime Minister Albin Kurti and his governing Vetevendosje! party, which swept to power four years ago in a landslide victory. The vote will determine who will lead Kosovo’s delegation in the stalled normalization talks with Serbia, a process facilitated by the European Union to bring both countries closer to EU membership. Eligible voters, including members of the diaspora, will cast their ballots to elect 120 lawmakers from among 26 political groupings and one independent candidate. The Serb minority is guaranteed 10 seats, while other minorities will have 10 reserved seats. This election is historic as it marks the first time since Kosovo declared independence in 2008 that a parliament has completed a full four-year mandate. The vote is also the ninth parliamentary election since the end of the 1998-1999 war between Serbian forces and ethnic Albanian separatists, which ended with a 78-day NATO bombing campaign that pushed Serbian forces out of Kosovo. Serbia still does not recognize Kosovo’s independence, declared in 2008.
Kurti’s Vetevendosje! party is widely expected to emerge as the front-runner, but it is unlikely to secure the majority needed to govern alone. This leaves the door open for potential coalitions, as the other two main contenders— the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK)— may need to join forces if Kurti fails to form a Cabinet. "On Feb. 9, we vote for the future," Kurti declared during the campaign. "We vote for Vetevendosje!" The PDK, one of the main contenders, is led by figures accused of war crimes and currently facing trials at The Hague tribunal. Meanwhile, the LDK, the oldest party in the country, has struggled to regain its influence since the death of its charismatic leader, Ibrahim Rugova, in 2006. During the campaign, all major parties made grand promises to increase public salaries and pensions, improve education and healthcare, and fight poverty. However, their pledges were often short on details, leaving voters wondering how these ambitious plans would be funded or how the country would attract more foreign investment. "We have a plan for each city, each family, each person," claimed Bedri Hamza of the PDK. Similarly, Lumir Abdixhiku of the LDK vowed, "We have an alternative to guarantee a better life in Kosovo."
Kosovo, a country of 1.6 million people, remains one of the poorest in Europe, with a per capita annual GDP of less than €6,000. The country is also grappling with the consequences of a 90-day freeze on U.S. funding for various projects through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), a key driver of Kosovo’s economic growth. Since 1999, the U.S. has invested €1.9 billion in Kosovo, including over €1 billion through USAID. These investments have been crucial in supporting the country’s development, but the current funding freeze has added to the economic challenges faced by the incoming government.
The outcome of the election will also have significant implications for Kosovo’s strained relations with neighboring Serbia. The normalization talks between the two countries, facilitated by the EU, have been stalled for some time. Kurti has been at odds with Western powers over certain actions taken by his government, such as the ban on the use of the Serbian dinar and the restriction of transfers from Serbia to Kosovo citizens who rely on social services and payments. These moves have drawn criticism from Washington, Brussels, and the NATO-led stabilization force KFOR, which have urged Kosovo to avoid unilateral actions that could reignite inter-ethnic tensions. Mimoza Ahmetaj, an opposition MP from the conservative RDK party and a former ambassador to the EU, emphasized the need for Kosovo to return to the negotiating table. "We need to go back to Brussels and continue our dialogue that has been initiated years back," she told Euronews, "in order to close this chapter of dispute and move into another chapter, which will bring more perspectives to the Kosovo citizens, no matter their origins or ethnicity."
The normalization talks have received little attention during the electoral campaign, but the relationship between Kosovo and Serbia remains tense. The EU has made it clear that it expects Kosovo’s new government to engage constructively in the normalization dialogue with Serbia, which is seen as essential for both countries’ integration into the EU. "The EU expects Kosovo’s new government to engage constructively in the normalization dialogue with Serbia," said a European Commission spokesperson. "This is central to both Serbia and Kosovo’s integration paths." Milan Radojević, a leader of the Serbian List party in Northern Kosovo, warned that even if Kurti refuses to form the Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities, the EU expects the implementation of that agreement. The Serbian List is perceived by many Kosovan Albanians as a direct extension of the Serbian Progressive Party, led by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić.
The international community has taken steps to ensure the stability of the region. KFOR has increased its presence in Kosovo following last year’s tensions and has bolstered its numbers during the election period. Additionally, a team of 100 observers from the European Union, 18 from the Council of Europe, and numerous others from international and local organizations will monitor the vote to ensure its integrity. The new government will face significant challenges, including the need to restore credibility and partnership with the EU and the United States, as well as fulfilling obligations stemming from the dialogue with Serbia. Analyst Ilir Deda noted, "The new government must take decisive steps to restore credibility and partnership with the EU and the United States, including fulfilling all the obligations that stem from the dialogue with Serbia." As Kosovo looks to the future, the outcome of this election will play a critical role in shaping the country’s path toward stability, prosperity, and eventual integration into the European Union.
