Summary of the Week 47

The elections in Kosovo were expected to clarify positions, but instead, they highlighted numerous issues: with counting, adding, dividing. Post-election tasks are still being resolved...

Adding up after several delays, celebrations before the official results, insults even after the campaign. The post-election equation in Kosovo expectedly has many unknowns, leading to divided opinions.

"It could be better, but that's wishful thinking," explained a citizen of Pristina.

On one side are those who are thrilled with the numbers, and on the other, the rest who are indifferent to the final solution.

"I have my own problems, we have no pensions, no money," lists another surveyed individual, pointing out what the elections failed to resolve and concludes: "They just mess around among themselves."

However, the post-election task is not easy for politicians either. Adding up is difficult, and subtraction and division are of no use.

"The coalition potential of Self-Determination is zero," comments analyst Srdjan Barac on the root of the problems.

There are even tougher tasks, but they are like higher mathematics, even when there are fewer unknowns.

Stefan Surlic from the Faculty of Political Sciences proposes a potential equation:

"A coalition of three parties plus minority communities, including the Serbian List, would require a very complex political process."

When tasks are complicated, it happens that we seek solutions from those who know them. Many fear this in this case too. However, political analyst Shkelzen Maliqi believes a quicker solution will be found:

"I do not believe there will be a 'Bulgarian' scenario or an 'Israeli' one of repeating elections constantly," says Maliqi.

Citizens do not have time for higher mathematics. They need a solution that guarantees security now. This is best confirmed by those who encounter "elusive" attackers time and again.

"We are not safe at all, they can come to break into the house, to kill us...", says Ljiljana Djoric from Lipljan after her house was stoned this week.

Such messages are neither new nor surprising but part of a broader task, or mission. However, it seems that not everyone understood it as expected.

"These elections have shown that just attacking Serbs and anti-Serbian politics are not enough to get people to vote for you," says historian Milan Gulic.

It is too early to fully assess what these elections have shown, as it has been "only" seven days since the voting, and the ballots are still being counted…