Political stalemate persists in Kosovo, hindering the selection of a new parliamentary speaker.
Kosovo's Political Standstill: A Hostage Situation?
Politics in Kosovo has hit a snag since the February 9 elections, with Prime Minister Albin Kurti's Self-Determination (VV) party attaining only 48 out of 120 seats - short of a majority government.
Opposition parties, since mid-April, have been obstinate in their refusal to endorse VV's nominee for the speaker position, former justice minister Albulena Haxhiu. This anticipated formality has transformed into a stalemate marked by repeated voting failures.
Politicians are now entertaining the idea of fresh elections as a possible resolution. As per parliamentary rules, the parliament cannot be considered inaugurated without a speaker, and without inauguration, a new government cannot be established.
Holding Kosovo Hostage?
Opposition parties are now accusing VV of intentionally blocking progress by refusing to propose an alternative candidate. Memli Krasniqi, president of the right-wing Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), whose party came in second with 20.95 percent of the vote, criticized VV, stating, "VV is keeping Kosovo in an institutional crisis at all costs."
Krasniqi suggested VV to consider alternative candidates, drawing parallels to the last US election where the Democratic Party replaced then-President Joe Biden with Kamala Harris. "That wasn't considered anything extraordinary," he added.
The center-right Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), which placed third on 18.27 percent, attributed the current crisis to VV's failure to create political partnerships for a new majority. Meanwhile, Ramush Haradinaj, leader of the right-wing Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), suggested the possibility of President Vjosa Osmani's intervention.
Osmani's office announced the launch of "a series of consultations" with political parties starting from Thursday. University of Pristina sociology professor Fadil Maloku believes that the crisis stems from "shameful hostilities between leaders."
Economic Consequences
The political deadlock could be detrimental to Kosovo, which declared independence from Serbia in February 2008 and is yet to be recognized by Serbia. The parliamentary standoff has delayed the ratification of agreements under the European Union’s Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, hindering Kosovo's access to €882.6 million in loans and grants.
Analysts warn that if ratification does not occur by June, funding disbursement may face delays or be reallocated to other countries. Even if parties agree to fresh elections, the legislature would still need to ratify the Growth Plan agreement. The current session, which began on April 15, can only be concluded with the election of a president, three vice-presidents, and the formation of parliamentary groups.
However, the Constitution does not specify a strict deadline for this process, theoretically allowing it to continue indefinitely. "The parties have locked themselves into their camps... the political schizophrenia continues," said Maloku. As for Kurti, he responded to a journalist's question about a potential solution to the crisis by saying, "I am the prime minister, let's move on." © 2025 AFP
Insights:
- The political crisis in Kosovo dates back to the February 9 elections, where the VV party won only 48 out of 120 seats, falling short of a majority government.
- The ongoing impasse in electing a speaker of parliament and the reluctance of opposition parties to endorse VV's candidate, Albulena Haxhiu, has persisted for over a month and counting.
- The parliamentary deadlock could potentially delay Kosovo's access to €882.6 million in funding from the European Union’s Growth Plan, which can cause economic repercussions.
- The ongoing political standstill in Kosovo, initiated by the February 9 elections, has led to a stalemate in policy-and-legislation, with the refusal of opposition parties to endorse VV's nominee for the speaker position, Albulena Haxhiu, potentially threatening Kosovo's justice system and general news pertaining to economic developments.
- As the political crisis in Kosovo continues, with the opposition parties accusing VV of intentionally blocking progress, cultural implications arise as the lack of a speaker in parliament and the prospect of fresh elections create a climate of hostility and political instability, affecting the overall dynamics of Kosovo's politics.
