DW analysis for Kosovo elections: Serbia, domestic problems, tensions and pressures

Pristina, the capital of Kosovo, is filled with election posters. From the pillars of lighting, billboards and walls, the faces of politicians smile at passersby, while attractive party slogans aim to secure support on election day. Kosovo goes to parliamentary elections Sunday (09.02). These will be the first regular parliamentary elections since Serbia's declaration of independence in February 2008.

From 2008 to 2021, only early elections have been held. Candidates compete for 120 seats in parliament. Twenty of these countries are reserved for members of national minorities, where half belongs to Kosovo Serbs. By the 2021 elections, the country has been governed by coalitions made up of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), which were run by figures of the 1990s independence movement.

But the 2021 parliamentary elections were won by the Social Democratist Vetevendosje movement, led by Albin Kurti, former student leader and former political prisoner under the regime of Serbian dictator Slobodan Milosevic. Kurti is running for a second term Sunday.

Conflict with Serbia

Over the past four years, Kurti has radically changed Kosovo's foreign policy course. While previous Kosovo governments had acted in close co-ordination with international allies, especially with the United States of America, the current government has acted largely independently since 2021.

Political party plates in Pristina

The prime minister's top priority, Albin Kurti, appears to implement Kosovo's full sovereignty in relation to Serbia and to free the country from the influence of international defence powers, whose policies Vetevendosje considers “colonialist”.

Since 2011, the European Union has been trying to achieve normalisation of relations between Serbia and Kosovo. Before Kurt took office in 2021, the dialogue between governments was almost frozen. Since then, he has been virtually existing. That is because Serbia has no intention of recognising Kosovo's sovereignty, while Kosovo refuses to make permanent concessions that would give Serbia the opportunity to intervene in its domestic policy.

Tension, Violence, and Pressure

One of the main obstacles in this regard is the establishment of the Serb majority Communist Association in Kosovo, a local government structure that requires a certain degree of collective autonomy. In exchange for Serbia, it is expected to abandon its blocking policy and allow Kosovo membership in global organisations as the United Nations.

Even though no progress has been made in this matter in recent years, Kurt soon began implementing the policy of sovereignty after coming to power. This included the establishment of the euro as the only official currency in the country, including Serb majority areas that had until then used the Serbian dinar for transactions.

Serbia retaliated by increasing military presence at the border. Serbian paramilitary forces in northern Kosovo committed several acts of violence, which called for the intervention of NATO-led peacekeeping troops KFOR. Conflict with Serbia continues to escalate. President Aleksandar Vucic is using an increasingly aggressive tone against Pristina. While the Kosovo government is facing great pressure from the EU and the US, which do not want it to refuse to reach “Agreements” with Serbia.

Youths' Vote

Regional and geopolitical issues pre-election dominate the titles of national and international media for Kosovo. For young voters, however, these developments are not the only important issue in the elections. The socioeconomic situation within the country is equally important.

Kosovo has the youngest population in Europe. Unemployment among youth under 24 is around 33%. Corruption remains a major problem, even four years after Kurti and Vetevendosje won elections with a clear anti-corruption programme. Besarta Jashari, a 21-year-old journalist working for radio and private television RTV 21, told DW that she wants more than anything to see social changes. Here, the lack of jobs and low wages make people emigrate”, Yasar said. The healthcare system must also improve because many people are forced to travel abroad for treatment. And, finally, I'd like to see more opportunities for young girls and women”.

“The politics are always dominated by the same old characters”She added. There is almost no space for new voices with fresh prospects and progressive ideas. Even in these parliamentary elections, no party has entrusted a woman with candidacy for the post of prime minister”.

Exodus from Kosovo

Politologist Nexmedin Spahiu stresses that the “young people in Kosovo do not have the patience to wait for the country's development: they want safe jobs and a society where merits matter, not party membership or closeness to power. ”

If the future government does not listen to young people's concerns, the excellent from the country will likely continue, creating an even bigger problem for Kosovo than the conflict with Serbia and international actors. Lea Hoxhaj, an 18-year-old student of management and economy applied by Pristina, who will vote for the first time Sunday, said the future Kosovo government “should create new jobs, support young people and ensure that the education system is improved, both in terms of qualified teachers and textbooks.”/ DW