Kosovo and Albania countries “partially free”, Adri Nurellari: Rama's Kurt are interested in reforms limiting power

These results of the two countries are viewed as a reflection of a deep structural analyst problem from Albania, Adri Nurellar. He also warns of direct obstruction on their EU integration routes.

Partial reforms undertaken by Kosovo and Albania, according to Nurlar, are random. Through them, he says that governments maintain the space for abuse of power, since their complete fulfillment would mean narrowing it down.

“This is not just a statement, but a state that is defined in political science as a “the balance of partial reforms””, he says, while adding that “these “beneficiary transition” build power over unfinished reforms and then do everything to stop them before they deepen.”, Nurilla told Express.

Nurellar says these results reflected in this report will directly affect the respective roads of the two countries towards European integration.

The “must be understood that European integration implies real restrictions on power through independent institutions, mandatory legal standards and monitoring mechanisms from Brussels. This includes strengthening independent courts, respecting European jurisdiction and a consensual decision-making culture that conflicts with Rama's centralised power models and Kurti”.

To rank in the category of free countries, Kosovo and Albania must switch from formal democracy to facade and rhetoric to functional democracy, Nurellar says.

While such reports are not heard by Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, in his speeches promoting his work with reports that bring Kosovo well, or as he says, <x0 ... champion”, Nurellar says positive developments should be accepted. But he says they are credited with the internationals that Kurt was told by “when he called “necolonizer”, as well as leaders before him, who contributed to the construction of these institutions that he now boasts, but he used to mock”.

Full interview:

For several years in a row, Freedom House lists Kosovo and Albania as partially free “ ” countries. How do you see this observation? Do you consider it more political?

Nutrellary: The fact that both Kosovo and Albania are classified for several years as partially free “countries from Freedom House is not a temporary coincidence, but a reflection of a deeper structural problem. The next report by the Varieties of Democracy ( V-Dem, which represents perhaps the most prestigious academic study for measuring the quality of democracy in the world. This is not just a statement, but a situation defined in political science as a “the balance of partial reforms”. Politologist Joel Hellman describes this phenomenon that in 1998, with the theory “taking everything”, which points out that the biggest obstacle to reform are not those affected by change, but the very beneficiaries of partial reforms. These “transition beneficiaries” build power over unfinished reforms and then do everything to stop them before they deepen. Because as reforms become real and institutions are strengthened, power abuse space narrows down significantly as the chances for more frequent rotations increase.

Do you think it will affect their integration path?

Nutrellary: As far as European integration is concerned, this rating has direct significance. The process of membership in the European Union is not only technical, but is closely related to the quality of democratic institutions. A country that remains for a long time “partially free” signals lack of consolidation of rule of law and institutional control, which is precisely at the heart of Copenhagen criteria. So, yes, this directly affects the pace and advancement of the integration process.

In this context, it must be understood that European integration implies real restrictions on power through independent institutions, mandatory legal standards and monitoring mechanisms from Brussels. This includes strengthening independent courts, respecting European jurisdiction and a consensual decision-making culture that conflicts with Rama and Kurti's centralised models of power. For this very reason, for autocrats who take advantage of strong control of institutions, full European integration is not in their personal interest at all.

How can this be removed locally “partially free”?

Nutrellary: Removing this “etic” is not an image issue, but content. This requires real strengthening of institutions -- independence of the judiciary, free media from political and economic pressure, as well as a parliament exercising effective control over the executive. In other words, it requires the transition from formal democracy to the facade of rhetoric to functional democracy.

On the other hand, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti often mentions various indexes that make Kosovo better than countries in the region. How do you see this narrator?

Nutrellary: As far as Prime Minister Kurti's initiative is concerned, it is true that some indexes put Kosovo relatively better than other countries in the region, especially in terms of electoral competition. This is a positive development and should be known as one. The merits of this are international partners, whom he once called “necocolonial”, as well as leaders before him, who contributed to the construction of these institutions he boasts today, but he used to mock. However, the selection of more favourable indicators should not replace a complete analysis of the system. Kosovo, as international reports show, remains far from standards of a liberal consolidation democracy.