Ivic: Kurti is not offering the opposition a real compromise, this will prolong the status quo

Petar Ivic, a collaborator of the Pupin Initiative, stated that the Constitutional Court's decision will not bring an end to the political crisis in Kosovo, and that the leader of the Self-Determination Movement, Albin Kurti, is not offering a real compromise to the opposition, which is why new elections are the most realistic outcome.

“The political crisis is long-lasting, deep, and highly polarizing. None of the actors are ready for a real compromise. Self-Determination is trying to push through its candidate for Speaker of the Assembly to compensate for its electoral decline. The opposition is aware of this and does not want to allow it. They are hoping for new elections and a potential further decline of Self-Determination,” Ivic said to Kosovo Online.

Commenting on the Constitutional Court's decision and the 30-day deadline to constitute the Kosovo parliament, this analyst does not expect a resolution to the crisis.

“In the next 30 days, we can expect repeated, futile attempts to constitute Kosovo’s parliament and most likely the calling of extraordinary parliamentary elections. Even if the assembly is constituted, it doesn’t mean a government will be formed, there are two regular sessions for that, and given the high polarization, that is unlikely. So, the path to elections is very probable,” Ivic stated.

When asked to comment on the failed meeting between Self-Determination leader Albin Kurti and opposition parties, the analyst said that this party is not ready for a “real compromise.”

“Kurti is offering certain compromise solutions which in reality are not compromises. He is offering a secret vote, and everyone knows what that implies: less transparency. The opposition is aware of that. As long as Self-Determination isn’t ready for a genuine compromise, the status quo will only be prolonged,” Ivic asserted.

He believes that the most realistic, but also least likely option for ending the political crisis is for the Self-Determination Movement to change its candidate.

“Under normal circumstances, a normal priority would be for Self-Determination to change its candidate for Speaker of the Assembly. But it is very unlikely that will happen,” Ivic emphasized.

He added that there is also a legal gray area regarding whether the crisis can be resolved by Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani, given that she cannot dissolve a parliament that has not yet been constituted.

Still, he pointed out that there is a constitutional provision under which Osmani, with a justified proposal from Kurti, could dissolve the Assembly and call new elections.

Calling new elections would be the most realistic scenario, Ivic believes, but adds that the ruling party will try to align them with the upcoming local elections.

“In political science, there is a rule that in a large number of cases, if parliamentary and local elections are close together or overlap, it often benefits the most powerful party, in this case, Self-Determination,” Ivic clarified.