Start counting backwards: What could happen to the president's position?

But the same mood doesn't seem to have those who should vote.

Currently, Kosovo does not have a new legislature in the Assembly, though the Central Election Commission (KQZ) has announced the final results and is expected to certified them quickly.

Meanwhile, the countdown has begun: MPs must vote by 4 March on the president's name for the new mandate, otherwise the country risks an early election.

What do parties say?

For Vetevendosje (LVV) Movement, the party that has won over 51 per cent of the vote in early parliamentary December 28th, the president's election represents the fourth priority.

Its leader, Albin Kurti, at the same time acting prime minister of Kosovo, has acknowledged having talked to Osman in this direction, but according to him, February confirms the opposition's willingness and interest to launch a new chapter with power.

For light up Arifin, the political affairs connoisseur, the LVV is not deliberately declared by “po or large” for Osman. According to him, Kurti does not want to negotiate for Osman, for which trust -- despite the fact that by the end of the mandate they had co-operation -- is not as in 2021.

“E has in order to imply that both options are possible. The LVV is playing the big pressure scenario, to get as close to the date of March 4th, and to have greater pressure on the opposition, in the worst case, to accept any candidate or candidate proposed, only not to go to the new elections”, Arifi tells Radio Free Europe.

Even the former opposition parties don't seem to have made up their minds.

The head of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Bedri Hamza, has said that a formula must be introduced first and then found.

The leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Lumir Abdixhiku, has confirmed late that he is willing to speak with the entire political spectrum to address this issue. According to him, the figure in the president's position should represent Kosovo's “national community”.

We need public communication within the political spectrum. That's very natural. When we talk about political agreements, we do not mean political deals, we mean that parties should sit down to make numbers for a future president of the Republic of Kosovo”, Obadiah has said.

His party, the LDK, has been what it did to Osmanus in 2021.

The Alliance for the Future of Kosovo appears to have its own candidate. Pal Lekaj from this party said days before party leader Ramush Haradinaj could be a candidate.

“I think it is time for the opposition to be unified and decide for a consensual candidate, and in this case, if not for Mr. Haradinaj”, Lekaj said, adding that there are also discussions with PDK and LDK leaders in this direction.

Arifi believes these parties are not in a very favourable position because of the risk of new elections, so they can also release pes if not party as one, there may be MPs who at least stay in the hall.

As for non-s majority minorities, three representatives of them -- Emily Rexhepi, Veton Berisha and Srdjan Galushi -- said days ago they would vote on the candidate the majority proposes, citing having votes for Osman.

How is the president of Kosovo elected?

To advance a proposal, at least 30 signatures of MPs must be secured.

A candidate should secure two-thirds of the deputies' votes in the 120-seat Assembly, while the quorum is reached by 80 MPs.

If in the first two rounds a candidate does not secure 80 votes, then the third vote will suffice to have 61.

What happens if the president isn't elected?

This time, beyond party calculations, disrespecting the timelines would lead the state to elections and would risk paralyzing the entire system. The state would be left without a budget, and therefore no funds could be allocated for the next election process.

Let's not talk about a lack of salaries for the public sector and a lot of other complications.

Another disaster for the state would be unless international agreements for the European Union Growth Plan and those with the World Bank were ratified.

Arifi believes that Kosovo can face new elections, only if it passes to a completely collective political subx1>.

Otherwise, if there is little rationality, opposition parties must make a decision on what the political scene will look like with the president, whoever will propose the LVV. Normally, it would be good to have a deal with LVV, to be a more balanced power, but it's seen that the party [is] LVV is not ready to share this” position.

President Osmani has been criticised several times during her mandate of taking sides by the Vetevendosje Movement.

In an interview for Radio Free Europe, at the end of December, she said that if she doesn't win another mandate, then political commitment will be returned, without telling which party. / REL