New elections in Kosovo, political parties want to compete alone

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani's duty has already concluded consultations with political parties and is soon expected to announce the date when extraordinary parliamentary elections will be held.

Analyst jetai Krasniqi from the Kosovo Democratic Institute tells Radio Free Europe that it is still early to see if there will be pre-election coalitions, though it is expected there will be. But, according to her, the question of eventual coalitions after the elections will define the election outcome and the need for the election of the country's new president.

The issue that remains to be seen is also the question of electing the president who, even with the elections (extraordinary parliamentary) will be seen whether we are making solutions or entering another political crisis. Regardless of which of the political parties will succeed in winning a consolidated majority and making the coalition with only one partner, it is more than necessary to have broader co-operation that runs towards two-thirds of the vote, in order for the president to be elected. If not, we'll still have elections”, Krasniqi points out.

Analis Agon Maliqi tells Radio Free Europe that the removal of red lines from political parties increases the possibilities and number of different formulas for coalitions. But, according to him, whether Kosovo's political and parliamentary scene will be redefined will depend heavily on whether the Vetevendosje Movement -- which in the past elections was the most voted party -- will win this election. As he says, there is a kind of silent consensus on the political scene, which Vetevendosje Movement views as the winner of extraordinary parliamentary elections.

As he says, the possible redefining of the political scene would depend on the depth of the eventual victory of the Vetevendosje Movement to traditional parties in the country, such as the Democratic League of Kosovo, the Democratic Party of Kosovo and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo.

I doubt that there is a single government of Vetevendosje possible, though I do not exclude it. Then with the PDK and LDK in opposition, I believe there's a more corresponding change of scene and we can talk about a redefining of these scenes. However, if LVV were to need one of these two parties, The PDK, or LDK, because we don't forget that even the president should be elected immediately. Then we can call him, maybe not redefination, but a kind of co-existence between the new power and someone from the old” guard, Maliqi points out.

Political parties, which will participate in early parliamentary elections, have already warned of their approaches to elections.

The Vetevendosje Movement does not rule out a possible coalition with only one list, reportedly to create the current applicant of the president's office, Vjosa Osmani. As Vetevendosje Movement spokesman Progress Kryeziu says of Radio Free Europe, other parties will not consider any possible coalition with it.

“We don't have, neither time nor votes to lose with other parties in this long-standing political club”, Kryeziu says.

Arba Abashi from the Democratic League of Kosovo has said at a meeting with journalists that his party remains to consider how the elections will approach.

For the moment, we have not yet discussed the party, but the orientation is to go to the elections alone”, Abrashi said.

Ismaili Bridge from the Democratic Party of Kosovo has told local media that this party is open to those parties that want to talk to it.

But, we have our membership, our structures, we have our vision, which we don't compromise on any possible political market”, Ismaili has declared.

Ahmet Isufi from the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, at a meeting of journalists, has not spoken about whether any pre-election coalition will target this party.

In this extraordinary election, we go to govern and lead the country”, Isufi said.

Andrew Shala of the Social Democrat Initiative has declared that his party's position is to compete alone in early parliamentary elections, but he has not ruled out the possibility of any possible coalition with any other party.

“After setting the election date, then the initiative's leading bodies will also decide on the possibility of any coalition with any other political subject”, Shala has said.

The possibility of coalition with another party has warned Jtlir Zymberaj from the New Kosovo Alliance.

“We are in internal discussions and the most likely option is to create a coalition with another political subject”, it has indicated.

But are Kosovo's internal and foreign policies expected to be redefining after the country's extraordinary parliamentary elections and possible establishment of the new government?

Analyst Life Krasniqi says that 2021, after the extraordinary parliamentary elections, will be different by 2020, not only on the issue of the coronary pandemic and the difficulties it has brought, but also on the obligations Kosovo has in the outer arena, such as dialogue with Serbia.

This absolutely depends on who will be in government. But, especially when we talk about foreign policy, there is expected to be continued dialogue, but also to see a consolidation and reposition of Kosovo to this” process, Krasniqi points out.

Analyst Maliqi, however, does not expect Kosovo's foreign policy changes during the government's upcoming mandate. Always expressing conviction that, according to general estimates, the potential election winner could be the Vetevendosje Movement, Maliqi stresses that this party will try to maintain Western support for the domestic agenda.

“This change could not happen if (Freedom of Vetevendosje Movement, Albin) Kurt is forced to cooperate with someone and to need coalitions. However, I personally think that, over time, Kurt can be the most unpredictable player and with the deepening consolidation of his power, in case it happens, then I don't rule out the possibility that he adopts a more sovereign approach”, Maliqi points out.

The early parliamentary elections in Kosovo came after the Kosovo Constitutional Court ruling on December 21st, which Etem Arifi's vote -- on the occasion of the Avdullah Hoti government's vote on June 3rd -- was invalid, as there was a penalty of cut form for over a year in prison.

On the basis of the Constitutional Court's conclusion, Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani's task will have to announce the elections, which should be held no later than 40 days from the day of their proclamation.