Surlic: Government and opposition in Kosovo are competing with unrealistic promises

Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Political Sciences in Belgrade, Stefan Surlic, assessed that both the government and opposition in Kosovo are competing with unrealistic promises during the election campaign, as the systemic problems present cannot be easily resolved.

Surlic notes that promises are being made about significant allocations for socially vulnerable groups, major investments, and changes in healthcare and education policies.

“There are systemic issues that cannot be resolved so easily, and I believe that Albin Kurti, realizing he cannot effectively tackle corruption, crime, and fundamental societal problems, has shifted his focus to the north, talking about sovereignty and increased armament. He is counting on nationalist rhetoric to enable Self-Determination to win again and secure more votes than all other opposition political options combined,” Surlic told Kosovo Online.

He says that Self-Determination’s campaign is focused on the north and highlights what they have achieved, something “no other political option has done in the past.”

“They claim to have consolidated sovereignty across Kosovo’s entire territory, especially in the northern municipalities with a Serbian majority, prevented smuggling and illegal trade, and abolished what they call parallel institutions across Kosovo. This is not the only topic, although it dominates and will likely influence many voters with nationalist leanings,” Surlic evaluated.

On the other hand, he adds, Self-Determination continues to present itself as a socially sensitive group aiming to achieve greater social justice in Kosovo through inclusive policies, progressive taxation, and special assistance systems.

“This sounds like an unrealistic and unachievable policy because Self-Determination’s results in fighting corruption and achieving a better social program have been very modest. There are also the usual promises, such as reducing unemployment, aiding the most vulnerable, and even creating a development bank to support key sectors. Albin Kurti’s statements often emphasize security, claiming that Kosovo is now much safer and, as he says, ‘if anyone attacks us today, Kosovo is far more prepared than before his administration,’” Surlic said.

According to Surlic, opposition parties mainly criticize Self-Determination’s governance, claiming they can achieve better economic results. They argue that corruption has deepened under Kurti’s rule, that people are dissatisfied, and that inflation has negated all salary increases achieved during Self-Determination’s administration. They also describe the policies as irrational both domestically and internationally.

“They are very cautious when it comes to northern Kosovo, and none of the opposition parties sharply criticize Albin Kurti’s policies in this area. They commend the absence of parallel institutions, the increased police presence in northern Kosovo, and the dismantling of what they call criminal structures. However, they argue that these measures should have been implemented with greater coordination with American and European partners. They criticize Kurti’s radical approach, claiming it has caused more foreign policy damage to Pristina than benefits, especially regarding actions affecting the Serbian community. There seems to be a consensus between the government and opposition on actions in northern Kosovo and other areas with a Serbian majority, but they argue the sequence of steps should have been different and better coordinated with Western partners,” Surlic explained.

Regarding other policies, Surlic stated that the opposition accuses Kurti of strengthening authoritarianism in Kosovo. They claim his recent decisions concerning the media are leading to complete suppression of freedom, and that another term for Kurti would mean continued corruption, pressure on the judiciary, and restrictions on media freedom. They assert that, as in his first term, the promised social programs will not materialize, and only their policies can reverse the negative trends initiated under Kurti’s leadership.