Milenkovic: Hamza and Haradinaj likely acceptable to the US administration

Marko Milenkovic from the NGO "New Social Initiative" told Kosovo Online that the candidates for prime minister from the four largest parties in Kosovo differ, but that their parties have put forward reasonable choices, given that these candidates are publicly recognizable, have some experience, and can garner a certain level of support.

"Ramush Haradinaj (AAK) has already served as prime minister, while Bedri Hamza (PDK) has participated in numerous institutions, having been Minister of Finance, Governor of the Central Bank, and Mayor of South Mitrovica, giving him experience in institutional work and leadership. Abdixhiku remains the biggest unknown, someone new to the political scene. He briefly served as a minister in one term but lacks significant experience in managing institutions. However, as the leader of LDK, he certainly attracts votes from the party's base," Milenkovic stated.

He considers it a logical choice for the Self-Determination Movement to once again put forward Albin Kurti as their candidate for prime minister, given that the entire movement has invested great efforts in promoting him and that Kurti himself has focused on self-promotion in recent years.

"What appeals to voters about him is his focus on security issues, but there haven't been many other significant results. In international relations, Kurti has not exactly excelled, whereas the opposite could be said for Bedri Hamza and Ramush Haradinaj, who come from parties that have had a different approach toward the international community. The stance of the US administration will play an important role, and in this regard, Hamza and Haradinaj are likely seen as acceptable – something that can be inferred from their meetings in the US," our source said.

Milenkovic says that he is unsure whether Kurti's previous tenure as prime minister will be an advantage in this race, however, he emphasizes that Kurti has spent his previous term campaigning for the upcoming elections through a nationalist policy focused on security issues.

"On the other hand, there have been no concrete results from the previous government. Relations with the international community have also suffered, especially in light of recent global developments. The world order is likely to change even further in the coming period, and the question remains how Kurti will navigate these changes and whether he inspires confidence among voters. I believe this aspect does not work in Kurti's favor. It favors Haradinaj more, although Haradinaj's government also had some incidents with the international community – such as the 100% tariffs on Serbian goods," Milenkovic noted.

Ultimately, as he assesses, the future government of Kosovo will have to include multiple political actors and will not have long-term stability, as next year's presidential elections will likely bring a new political crisis and a shift in the political landscape.