Burjani: Kurti hopes for AAK votes, large part of the diaspora will not vote in these elections

Political analyst Blerim Burjani stated for Kosovo Online that the June 7 elections will differ from those held on December 28 last year in that a large part of the diaspora will not participate in the vote. Nevertheless, Burjani assesses that diaspora votes will once again be an asset for Kosovo Prime Minister in technical mandate Albin Kurti in this electoral process, while former KLA leaders being tried in The Hague, as he noted, will not be part of the Self-Determination Movement’s election campaign narrative.

As he explained, members of the diaspora will not travel to Kosovo solely in order to vote, but will instead cast their ballots at diplomatic and consular missions.

“This time it will not be the same as on December 28; the diaspora will not be able to travel just because of the elections. Only a small number of people will come to Kosovo solely to vote. The majority will vote by mail or at embassies,” our interlocutor said.

In his opinion, KLA leaders currently standing trial in The Hague for war crimes will not be part of the narrative used by Kurti and the Self-Determination Movement during the election campaign, which begins on May 28, because, as he said, they offer no political benefit to them.

“I do not think they will mention them, because they gain no advantage from doing so. The Democratic Party of Kosovo will use them, but not Self-Determination,” Burjani added.

He further stressed that the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) will struggle to pass the electoral threshold, while Kurti hopes that votes previously going to the AAK will now shift to Self-Determination.