"Extreme degradation of political and institutional life in Kosovo" – this is how Albert Krasniqi from the organization Demokraci Plus describes the second failed attempt of the Kosovo Assembly to vote for the new Government. He emphasizes that politicians are placing personal and party interests above those of the state, showing a clear lack of responsibility and commitment to the citizens who elected them.
"This indicates a low level of responsibility of the political class in the country, regardless of the ruling party or the opposition. Everyone has their own share of the blame," Krasniqi tells Radio Free Europe.
The Kosovo Assembly failed on November 19 to approve the new Government, which would be led by Glauk Konjufca of the Vetevendosje Movement. 56 MPs voted in favor of the formation of the Government, according to the Vetevendosje proposal, while 4 abstained, while 53 were against.
This was Vetëvendosje's second attempt to form a government, following the failure of the first candidate, Albin Kurti, on October 26.
According to the Constitution, if even the second-term candidate fails to form a government, the country's president, Vjosa Osmani, must announce new elections, which must be held within 40 days from the date of the announcement.
Radio Free Europe asked the Office of the Presidency about the possible timing of the announcement of the elections, but did not receive a response.
Belgzim Kamberi, from the Musine Kokolari Institute for Social Policy, is not optimistic that new elections can bring a real solution to the political impasse.
"It remains to be seen what positions and political narratives Albanian parties will enter the upcoming elections with, because most of the actors are almost the same. We do not have an extraordinary climate that could radically change parliamentary representation," Kamberi tells Radio Free Europe.
Kosovo has been on the brink of crisis since the parliamentary elections on February 9. Vetëvendosje won the majority of votes, but not enough to form a government on its own. The assembly was delayed for about six months due to political disagreements, and the process was challenged several times in the Constitutional Court.
The international community – including the German top diplomat, Johann Wadephul, most recently – has repeatedly stressed the need for Kosovo to have a stable government as soon as possible.
According to Kamberi, recent months have not seen a major involvement of the international factor, which, “in one way or another, has always been involved in building Kosovo’s governments.” “International non-involvement has not helped the process, because it has not been possible to create a parliamentary majority,” he said.
Kamberi adds that after new elections, and with the presidential election expected in the spring, it is difficult to foresee the formation of a government without the two main Albanian parties. According to him, it also remains unclear who these two parties would be and whether they would be able to cooperate without the facilitation of the international factor.
"So, these elections should be seen as opportunities to try new paradigms, to avoid a new deadlock," he adds.
