Pavkovic: A caretaker government would not suit Kurti in the long term

Director of strategy at the Center for European Policies in Belgrade, Milos Pavkovic, pointed out that a Kosovo caretaker government would put dialogue with Serbia off the agenda, but that such a government would not suit Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti in the long term.

Pavkovic told Kosovo Online that for Kurti, if after a decision by the Constitutional Court of Kosovo the Kosovo government were to enter a caretaker mandate until early elections, it would serve as a good excuse not to deal with the issue of dialogue and the Community of Serb Municipalities.

“Kurti is currently not in a caretaker mandate, given the decision of the Constitutional Court to freeze the entire process until the end of March, which actually means that there is a possibility of him entering a caretaker mandate if early elections are called. However, if that does not happen, he will continue to be prime minister with a full mandate. If a caretaker mandate does occur, he will have a good excuse not to deal with the issues of dialogue, normalization of relations, and the formation of the Serbian community,” Pavkovic said.

However, he adds, Kurti would enter very difficult political terrain with a caretaker government.

“Every election carries a certain degree of uncertainty. I think he will nevertheless strive to remain in a full mandate and to avoid early elections and a caretaker mandate, which he has also signaled in some statements. A caretaker mandate would definitely mean that all issues related to dialogue are put off the agenda, and that would suit Kurti, however, in general, a caretaker mandate would not work in his favor in the long term,” Pavkovic stated.