Cakolli: Osmani must not support any party, her votes will not return to the LDK

Eugen Cakolli from the Kosovo Democratic Institute told Kosovo Online that he does not believe that the approximately 300,000 votes Vjosa Osmani won in the 2021 elections on the Self-Determination list will return to her former party, the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), in the upcoming elections scheduled for February 9, 2025, due to the current relationship between Vjosa Osmani and Albin Kurti.

"Regardless of the current relationship between Albin Kurti and Osmani, Osmani has not yet given any indication that would direct voters to her former party, the LDK. On the other hand, in my opinion, the LDK has not done enough to win back the votes they lost due to Osmani's move to the Self-Determination list," Cakolli said.

He added that the votes Osmani won while she was part of the Self-Determination list were a product of the atmosphere created in 2021, and that the tandem formed between her and Kurti is what attracted that number of votes.

"People who voted for Self-Determination were a broader group than just party supporters," Cakolli stated.

According to the Constitution of Kosovo, as he pointed out, Osmani should not and must not support any political party because, according to her constitutional mandate, the president is supposed to represent unity, not support specific parties.

"On the other hand, I believe that Osmani does not have real influence over the voters, although she could eventually harm Kurti's support if the current conflict between her and Kurti continues publicly and is widely exposed by both sides. However, the only thing I expect is that her positions on issues such as the opening of the bridge or the relationship between the government and the US administration will be topics that could indirectly influence voters, considering that Osmani's stance essentially rejects any sovereignist move without consultation and coordination with partners," Cakolli said.