Former ambassador and political analyst Syl Ukshini, invited to the show Good Morning Albania, has commented on the recent political impasse in Kosovo, recalling that the current situation is similar to that of 2014, but with an essential difference.
“In 2014, there was a stalemate of several months, but then the former president Thaçi won the elections, while the LVV created a block of losing parties and said ‘we are winners’. Now the situation is different, the opposition parties have recognized the victory of the LVV”said Ukshini.
According to him, the Vetëvendosje Movement, which had won over 51 percent in the elections four years ago, had the responsibility to find a coalition partner, but did not do so.
“Probably spoiled by the great victory of 2021, he failed to find a partner. We must admit that there was a bit of arrogance during governance and in the campaign. The words Kurti used at the beginning turned out to be fatal for relations with the opposition”. he emphasized.
Ukshini said that instead of asking for the change of the representative, Kurti should have shown political flexibility.
“I would not change the representative, but I would offer Fatmir Limaj the post of Speaker of the Parliament and today Kosovo would have a Prime Minister“, he added, recalling that during the constitutive session of April 25, the current stalemate could have been avoided if Limaj had accepted that position.
The analyst emphasized that the constitutional system of Kosovo necessarily requires political agreement after the elections.
“It happened once in 2021 because of the Special Court, but it cannot happen every four years that an arrest is expected to make the majority. The one who wins must have the ability to give something and build the coalition.” said Ukshini.
According to him, Vetëvendosje made a tactical mistake by offering cooperation only to LDK and Nisma, leaving out PDK.
“He even treated the PDK as being in the same camp as the Serbian List, this was a political mistake”. he added.
Asked if Kosovo can go towards early elections, Syl Ukshini expressed his skepticism that within the constitutional deadline of 15 days a consensus can be reached for the representative Glauk Konjufca.
“I have respect for Konjufca, he is a young intellectual and politician who enjoys respect in the political scene, but the problem is not related to him. The idea is to go with an agent without an agreement. It seems like they have the votes, but they don’t“, he said.
According to Ukshin, Konjufca would have the potential for consensus if he had “free hands” to negotiate, as he is one of the few politicians who has cooperation bridges with other parties.
In the end, the former ambassador emphasized that if Kosovo ends in early elections, each party will seek to maximize its benefits, but the responsibility for not creating institutions remains with the winning party. “Every party tries to win, but the burden of creating institutions belongs to the winners. Vetëvendosje should have made a compromise to maintain the position
