Osmani's address in Parliament: Rift with Kurti or electoral strategy?

The annual address by Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani in Parliament attracted significant attention from the Kosovan public, as many interpreted her words as a critique of Prime Minister Albin Kurti. The most notable remark concerned "gambling with alliances," which she claimed "undermines Kosovo’s very defense." While some believe Osmani aimed to distance herself from the failures of Kurti's government and its policies, others point out that she has been a loyal ally for years and view her statement as political maneuvering ahead of the upcoming elections.

Written by: Petar Rosic

"The importance of maintaining and strengthening alliances is invaluable. Political history proves that weakening alliances and partnerships is a strategic mistake. Unity with those who helped us achieve state freedom is never submission or coercion," Osmani said, adding that alliances are there to protect Kosovo, and "jeopardizing or gambling with them undermines its very defense."

Kurti declined to comment on Osmani’s speech to the media, citing a lack of time. Instead, Kosovo Assembly Speaker Glauk Konjufca addressed it, criticizing the use of harsh words and suggesting other ways to express dissatisfaction.

"We always have disagreements, especially on issues such as the dialogue, the association of municipalities, decisions on sending drafts of the Community statute to the Constitutional Court, and the government's actions in northern Kosovo. Differences may exist, but I think we must preserve the integrity of institutions and the responsibility we represent. There’s plenty of room to express criticism and disagreements in ways other than offensive language," Konjufca stated.

Many opposition politicians, such as Behgjet Pacolli, believe that Osmani has decided to distance herself from the failures of Kurti's government due to the upcoming elections.

"The President is aware that Albin Kurti is unlikely to support her candidacy for a second term. As a result, she has decided to distance herself from his government, attempting to position herself as an independent political figure," explained the leader of the Alliance for a New Kosovo.

However, Democratic Party of Kosovo (DPK) MP Hisen Berisha argues that Osmani and Kurti still work in full coordination and that her critiques are merely part of a strategy to garner votes.

He asserted that Osmani’s aim is to retain votes "stolen from the Democratic League of Kosovo."

"Osmani is playing a game to save Kurti; they are in full coordination. Her critiques of Kurti have absolutely no effect; on the contrary, they further embolden him," Berisha said.

In contrast, Pristina-based political analyst Afrim Kasolli told Kosovo Online that Osmani’s speech clearly showed that the relationship between her and Prime Minister Albin Kurti has reached a breaking point.

"Her conflict with Prime Minister Kurti, the Kosovo government, and Foreign Minister Donika Gërvalla has been evident for a long time. However, her recent speech in the Kosovo Assembly clearly demonstrated that these conflicts have deepened further, reaching a point of no return despite their prior partnership," Kasolli remarked.

He added that the crisis Kosovo faces today, particularly on the international stage, did not arise by chance and noted that Osmani "remained silent until recently."

"This crisis has long been apparent. Kosovo is isolated, under sanctions, and has had strained relations with international partners for some time. President Osmani only recently began expressing her critiques, suggesting this shift may stem from personal interests or disagreements with Prime Minister Kurti rather than a commitment to protect Kosovo's position in these processes," the analyst added.

Zoran Savic from NGO Aktiv explained to Kosovo Online that the rift within the ruling coalition in Kosovo, especially between Osmani and Kurti, has been simmering for some time and culminated when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a letter to the Council of Europe on the day of the session without informing Osmani.

"By protocol, she should have been informed. The reaction from the Kosovo presidency was extremely sharp," Savic said, recalling that the division between Osmani and Kurti is also evident in their relations with the international community, particularly the Quint countries. On several occasions, Osmani accused Kurti of undermining alliances, particularly with the U.S.

Despite these tensions, Marko Miskeljin from the Center for Social Stability views these exchanges as mere political maneuvering ahead of elections.

"With elections approaching, every statement by political actors, whether part of the current Pristina administration or aspiring to be, should be viewed through that lens," he told Kosovo Online.

He added that Osmani’s newfound criticisms seem more like "hindsight" rather than a genuine break with Kurti.

"We’ve seen that Osmani didn’t hold such views or make similar critiques while Kurti imposed policies that oppressed the Serbian population in Kosovo and Metohija. From blocking mail and Serbian goods for a year to the ongoing challenges today, there were no objections or attempts to ease the daily lives of Kosovo Serbs. This suggests that there aren’t serious political or ideological differences at play but rather political tactics," Miskeljin explained.

In her speech, Osmani also criticized the mockery and attacks on allies, stating that "such actions do not bring honor to Kosovo."

However, Savic pointed out that in the same speech, she "denied that Miroslav Lajcak leads the negotiation process," justifying her claim by noting that Slovakia has not recognized Kosovo, despite Lajcak being an EU official.

When asked whether a potential rift between Kurti and Osmani could impact the dialogue process, the response was that it would not lead to radical changes, though any shift in government could influence the dynamics of negotiations.

"Every change in government has, in one way or another, altered the dynamics of the dialogue. However, it won't have a crucial impact or result in any drastic changes to the process," he concluded.

Kasoli agreed, explaining that the dialogue process is largely shaped by external factors that go beyond Kosovo's internal political relations.

"It depends on how determined these external factors are in pushing the dialogue agenda forward. Ultimately, according to a prior Constitutional Court ruling, the dialogue process is under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Government of Kosovo, despite the fact that the president is also a representative of the state’s foreign policy," Kasoli noted.

Miskeljin believes that changes in the dialogue process could only occur through "personal pressures and threats of individual sanctions."

"The moment it became clear that Albin Kurti’s invitation to the Berlin Process was at risk, Serbian goods, at least to some extent, began entering Kosovo. This is the best example of what I mean – that only personal sanctions, measures that personally harm the individual primarily responsible for such heightened tensions, can yield results. They can lead to negotiations conducted in good faith, ultimately achieving tangible outcomes and improving the lives of all residents of Kosovo, which should be the primary goal for everyone," Miskeljin concluded.