DW: It will not be easy to form government in Kosovo what are possible scenarios?

It was the most lasting count compared to previous elections. Finally Wednesday ended the entire vote counting process for the February 9th parliamentary elections in Kosovo. The prime minister's Vetevendosje movement, Albin Kurti, ranks the first party with 42.28% of the vote, securing 48 mandates. The second ranks the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) with 20.96%, securing 24 mandates. The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) won 18.43% and secured 20 mandates, while the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo and Initiative won only 7.08%, securing 8 mandates. 20 seats in the Kosovo Assembly are reserved for minorities, 10 for Kosovo Serbs.

“The CEC is obliged to wait at least 48 hours before announcing the final election results for the Kosovo Assembly. This article envisions the possibility that in PZAP, within 48 hours of the alleged violation, complaints were filed about the counting management that was conducted at the Accounting Centre and Results”, said CEC spokesman Valmir Elezi.

But how do political analysts view the current situation, where Kurt's Vetevendosje did not get the absolute majority to form the government alone? According to them, the result complicates things and, in reality, both sides can form the government with coalitions -- including Vetevendosje, but also all opposition parties together.

What are the possible scenarios?

Ehat Miftaraj, political analyst, told DW that “despite the fact that LVV has not received enough votes to form the government, taking on specifics that the constitutional system has in Kosovo remain some scenarios, influenced by both internal and external factors. ” “The first scenario is a coalition between LVV, the parties of the non-party community (Exclude the Serbian List) and an Albanian political party. For this scenario to be implemented in practice, it would require access to LVV and a moderate language to leave space for co-operation, which has not occurred so far. On the contrary, the LVV leader called opposition leaders with hate speech and offensive language such as '%hajwana, which in Albanian is synonymous with the word 'husha'. In this regard, the impression has been created that LVV, at least in public with its actions, is abstained from the right to form the next government, creating a divisive and polarising atmosphere and climate against all”, Miftaraj says.

But analysts also see other possible scenarios, such as forming the minority government on the part of opposition political parties, at least with no majority communities. Analyst Miftaraj predicts this scenario as possible if there is political will among the three opposition political parties. The condition that they find common language and at least two opposition parties agree that the prime minister's position is to meet one of them, harmonise the government programme and agree on positions related to the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue and other important issues, such as reports with the EU, punitive measures, etc. ”

EU expects formation of new government in Kosovo

The February 9th parliamentary elections in Kosovo were held without incident. After a several-year boycott, List Srpska, the largest Kosovo Serb party, also participated in the elections.

In the joint statement of European diplomacy director Kaya Kallas, and Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, the EU reportedly expects the Assembly and the new government to be formed in Kosovo. The European Union expects the new Parliament and Government to be formed in line with the will of the people and will continue to support Kosovo on its way to achieving European integration, including implementation of its commitments, especially in terms of relations with Serbia and strengthening rule of law. ”

The EU statement calls on authorities in Kosovo to engage in responsible regional co-operation and intensify efforts to strengthen rule of law and public administration, as well as to protect freedom of expression. “Progress in normalising relations with Serbia is the only way for Kosovo to achieve progress on its European path”, the statement noted.

In the February 9th parliamentary elections, 28 political subjects and an independent candidate competed. Four candidates from the four largest parties competed for the prime minister's post. Voter rights had about 2 million citizens, while voting only about 800 thousand, converted into percentages, slightly over 40%. Kosovo's parliament has 120 seats and, according to the result, the Vetevendosje Movement, which emerged the first party, cannot form the government alone. She needs a coalition with any of the other parties. / DW