Surlic: Lower percentage for Self-Determination in the elections, but we cannot speak of Kurti’s debacle

Assistant professor at the Faculty of Political Sciences in Belgrade, Stefan Surlic, told Kosovo Online that if voter turnout in Kosovo on June 7 is lower, it would also mean a lower percentage for Self-Determination, but that it cannot be described as a debacle for the movement and its leader Albin Kurti.

Surlic says that research shows a stable percentage for Self-Determination in these elections as well, but that Kurti’s announcements of winning 60 percent of the vote are unrealistic.

“Alongside lower turnout, we will likely also have a lower percentage for Self-Determination, but we cannot talk about a debacle. Research conducted so far shows a stable percentage for Self-Determination, but also that it is unrealistic for Albin Kurti to claim he will win 60 percent in the elections,” Surlic said.

According to Surlic, two factors will influence the distribution of power among parties after the elections: the entry of Vjosa Osmani into the race and the international community.

“Now there is a new factor, the direct entry of Vjosa Osmani into the political arena, and she will manage to return some percentage to the Democratic League of Kosovo. There is also the international factor, how they will behave, primarily the United States, I think that will also affect voter preferences,” he said.

In any case, Surlic believes, one should not rush into claims that Kurti is losing.

“Even if he goes into opposition, he has created such a nationalist narrative that the opposition would largely follow his path when it comes to the Serbian community, which is, unfortunately, disappointing,” Surlic stated.