Reasons Behind Osmani Distinction

The famous expression that “something happened and the rest is history” is not worth developments in Kosovo in recent days.

Although for weeks she argued that President Vjosa Osmani did not enjoy the support of Prime Minister Albin Kurti for a second term, in public something like that was not reflected by those two.

At least not until Kurti's party, the Vetevendosje (LVV) Movement, introduced two other candidates for president, on March 5th, and Osmani came out by decree tomorrow for the distribution of the Kosovo Assembly.

The new president was not elected because of lack of quorum, while the LVV said Osman's decree is unconstitutional, and brought the subject to the Constitutional Court. As a result, both the decree and the work of the Parliament were paralyzed until March 31st.

Meanwhile, the public's interest grows toward all that happened and can happen.

President Osmani said in an interview for the TV eye on Monday, that increasing partnership between Kosovo and the current US administration would have to be seen as a success, not an obstacle.

Kosovo sees the US as the main ally, and its support was vital both in declaring independence and in forming institutions. However, it is not a secret that Kurt has repeatedly strained his relationship with American authorities.

Free Europe Radio requested a comment from the Government of Kosovo whether Osman's close relationship with the US may have hampered Kurti, and what exactly happened between them, but did not get answers.

Political development acquaintance Agon Maliqi says Osman may not have told him all, as he is still in office, but considers that she owes public opinion an explanation for this statement.

“Historically, [the United States] has had difficulty building co-operative report with Prime Minister Kurti, a productive report built into the faith. However, there has been co-operation in certain areas with Government, in defence, in security, in the economy, but I believe there is some kind of doubt in the possibility of building productive partnerships”.

U.S. relations, Kurti

During Kurt's second term, American authorities said several times publicly that Kosovo did not treat the US as a partner, and that certain government decisions influenced the quality of relations between the two countries.

The US suspended the Strategic Dialogue with Kosovo, even before it started. The decision was widely commented as a signal of distance from Kurti.

The prime minister himself said on occasion that he had not broken up with America, but that he had differences with him on certain issues.

President Osmani, on the other hand, cooled and met with important American administration figures in Washington, and whenever the situation tensed, she reiterated the importance of keeping reports with the key ally.

Maliqi sees potential for Osman's recent statements to become problematic in reports with the US in the future.

If they [Americans] don't find anyone in Kosovo institutions, whether in Government or the Presidencys, who see him as a reliable partner, then this relationship cannot produce as much as it can”.

Visar Ymer, director of the “Mousine Cocalari”, also mentioned days ago that it is Osman's relationship with the United States that is seen in Kurti's eyes as a lack of loyalty he requires.

Osmani indicated during the 9 March interview that there was no communication and co-ordination with Kurt when she was headed towards Davos, Switzerland, on January 22nd, to represent the country at the establishment of the American President Donald Trump's Peace Board, to end conflicts around the world.

According to her, although Kurt was there, the American authorities asked her to attend the foundation ceremony, and despite all efforts, the president's staff failed to talk in advance with the prime minister.

How will division affect the political scene?

Maliqi believes that the Osmani <x0 effect target” exists in the rise in the percentage of votes for the LVV in recent years. According to him, Osman himself seems to view Kurt as “borgheli” in this regard, so he believes he can take political capital back and take it elsewhere.

The effect will be, it won't leave without a hint of LVV, because in 2021, the spirit that was produced, the mythology that was produced of victory, was shared, and it was Osman who in some form broke down the Democratic League of Kosovo and led the LDK [LVV] voter”.

In 2021, Kurti and Osmani, competing on a joint list, won over 50 per cent of the vote in parliamentary elections and secured the best result ever for a political subject from Kosovo's independence.

On December 28, 2025, LV achieved even better results, but Maliqi believes Osmani had a hand again, because “she publicly acknowledged that she had used the presidency to help Kurti rule and win the last” elections.

According to Maliqi, early elections are inevitable this year and the only dilemma is about the date they will be held.