German journalist: New VV elections can bring him to the head of government

Journalist Erich Rathfelder in a letter to the German daily Tageszeitung estimates that the new elections could bring Albin Kurtin to the head of the Kosovo government, which would undermine the EU plan for rapprochement with Serbia. Rathfelder, who has worked in Balkan countries in the last 30 years and has also reported from Kosovo.

Two months after parliamentary elections in Kosovo, coalition winner of U commanders CKUA has yet to secure a majority of 61 out of 120 seats for government formation.

Neither did the votes of Serbian minority deputies help Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj make the majority. Since last week the speaker of Parliament was unable to be elected, many analysts think all these developments are leading to new elections.

On Wednesday, major parties are expected to meet to find a way out of the crisis. It'll be crucial what's gonna come out of this.

The largest opposition party, Vetevendosje, has already withdrawn. It would probably benefit from the new elections. It is in question whether former Prime Minister Isa Musta as chairman of the other opposition Democratic League (LDK) will reach an agreement with Haradinaj because backing Haradinaj and President Hashim Thaci has changed.

The candidate liked by the new generation, which will be crucial in the new elections, is Albin Kurti, chief of Vetevendosje. Meanwhile, representatives of international institutions -- i.e. the EU -- of KFOR's international troops and the rule of law mission EULEX, they see 45 years old who constantly fight against corruption and abandoned political declarations as opponents and obstacles to Kosovo's offensive with Serbia. This is required with everyone, primarily from the European Union.

But even in international institutions it's slowly changing the thought, so Kurt's not offended as often as before, as nationalist or both as a left and unpredictable Marxist.

But the international strategy would be considered failed in the event of Kurt's election victory.

Because Kurti disagrees with the country's territorial division on ethnic lines. Kurti had also rejected the so-called UN Ahtisaari Plan in 2007, whose admission by the Kosovo Parliament was a precondition for the country's independence in 2008. With Ahtisaari's plan, Serbian municipalities gained access to the administration.

The EU wants to push this forward: Serbian municipalities, which make up 7 per cent of the population and 20 per cent of the territory, should be linked to a “Baptise of the” municipalities. This community would have its own representatives, a Parliament and a president.

This in the eyes of Kurti and his supporters would be the implementation of a “Bosnian secession”, which has brought up the blockade in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Serbia and the Kosovo Serbs in Parliament are willing to support even the commanders, who describe as <x0-crime war” of the KLA relief organisation, only to form the “Community Union”.