Jeremic: AfD will be a vocal opposition in Germany; government's moves on Kosovo will face strong reactions

Despite not being part of the new German government, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) will become a significant factor after the elections. Germany has lacked a strong and vocal opposition that closely scrutinizes every government action, and AfD will fill that role. In particular, they will focus on Kosovo and Metohija and Germany’s stance on the issue. The government will no longer be able to make decisions regarding Kosovo without facing opposition reactions, former FRY Ambassador to Germany Zoran Jeremic told Kosovo Online.

According to Jeremic, every step the government takes regarding Kosovo that does not align with the opposition’s views will face a clear and strong response.

The leading candidate for the new German chancellor is Friedrich Merz from the CDU. Jeremic believes that when it comes to the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, the new government will try to stay within the framework of the European Union while also ensuring that Germany’s voice is heard more prominently through its influence on the authorities in Pristina and the negotiation process.

“If it aligns with their interests, they will pressure Pristina to implement what has been agreed upon. The foundation of the dialogue has now effectively become the French-German plan, regardless of how we feel about it. Germany, by its very nature, will insist on its provisions. However, there will also be an emphasis on the formation of the Community of Serb Municipalities, as they recognize that a vacuum has emerged, leading to a stagnation in the dialogue. All parties have been waiting to see what the US would do, but now the cards have been dealt,” Jeremic stated.

Discussing the key issues for voters ahead of tomorrow’s elections, Jeremic highlighted economic development as the most critical concern.

“Political parties are using migration as a card to score additional political points, and while this issue is important to voters, their top priority remains the economic situation. During the debate among the four chancellor candidates, 90% of the discussion revolved around economic issues. On migration, most parties hold similar views with only slight differences. However, economic development is a crucial topic, as Germany is entering a phase where its economy cannot meet the growing demands resulting from the policies it has pursued,” Jeremic explained.