Gogic: New bridges between South and North Mitrovica are part of pre-election rhetoric

Political scientist Ognjen Gogic has assessed that the Pristina government’s intention to begin construction of two new bridges between South and North Mitrovica is part of pre-election rhetoric, as well as an attempt to "bypass" KFOR's clear position prohibiting road traffic across the main bridge over the Ibar River.

"This is an initiative launched at a time when such initiatives are not usually undertaken. It comes from a ministry whose mandate has expired and from municipalities whose mandates are soon to expire. So, they do not have the authority or mandate to launch new initiatives, making this a pre-election topic, and it is highly questionable whether it will ever be realized, whether there will be consent from a new ministry and new municipal authorities, especially in North Mitrovica when the Serbs return," Gogic told Kosovo Online.

He recalled that the main bridge over the Ibar was already one of the central issues during last summer’s election campaign, which culminated in the February elections, and that it will again become a topic in the upcoming local elections scheduled for October, and most likely in the anticipated repeat parliamentary elections as well.

"Last year, during the summer, the government in Pristina launched an initiative to open the bridge between the two Mitrovicas for road traffic, despite Serbian opposition. However, the fact that the Serbs oppose it would not have prevented the government in Pristina from opening the bridge; what actually stopped it was KFOR taking the position that the bridge would not be opened. KFOR has held that position for over a year now and hasn’t changed it," Gogic said.

He emphasized that this summer, Pristina is presenting an upgraded version of the "Ibar bridge topic."

"Since they know KFOR’s position, they have come up with another idea: instead of opening that bridge, they plan to build and open two more next to it in the meantime," Gogic explained.

He assessed that this pre-election issue is also aimed at the Albanian diaspora, which traditionally visits Kosovo in large numbers during the summer.

"During the summer, a large number of Albanians from the diaspora come to Kosovo, and many of them strongly wish to cross this bridge with their cars. Since Kurti can’t offer them that, he will at least promise to build two other bridges beside it, so that their wish can be fulfilled. This is clearly a move to mobilize the diaspora, their radical emotions, and also to rally voters ahead of the elections," Gogic concluded.