Radojkovic: Osmani in campaign mode; if not re-elected as president, she could become an ambassador

The numerous recent foreign visits and meetings with international officials by Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani are, according to historian Stefan Radojkovic, a form of political campaigning. Osmani is aiming to show the Albanian public in Kosovo that, unlike Albin Kurti, she can communicate with representatives of the international community, that she is someone who bridges different conflicting factions among Kosovo Albanians, and that she enjoys the support of the Albanian diaspora.

“Through visits to European countries, Osmani presents herself as someone who has access to the partners of the Pristina administration in Europe. It’s important to note that she also visits countries with a significant Albanian diaspora, which is not an insignificant factor. Additionally, she visits mostly Muslim countries, especially in Asia. Not only because her religion is Islam, which she openly states and there is no secret about it, but also to show her electorate that she respects traditional values in Kosovo, both in terms of the Islamic community specifically and more broadly, and that she is a desirable interlocutor amid the current political crisis,” Radojkovic told Kosovo Online.

If Osmani is not re-elected as President of Kosovo next year, he believes she will still remain an important political figure. A person with her political weight in international contexts will not be dismissed outright by any of the Kosovo Albanian parties; instead, they will likely try to bring her into their camp.

“In other words, she is currently in a very favorable position compared to both the divided Albanian opposition and the regime, and she has launched her campaign early ahead of what’s to come next year, which is likely her bid for re-election,” Radojkovic believes.

According to him, it is important for Osmani to establish herself internationally, confirm her domestic dominance, and present herself as an impartial president for all citizens.

If she does not receive a second term, our interlocutor believes Osmani likely won’t be engaged by international organizations, but she could potentially become one of the next ambassadors for the Pristina administration.

“We know that the Pristina administration has a practice of appointing women as ambassadors, one example is Professor Nita Luci in Norway. In doing so, they present a progressive image alongside the traditional one that Vjosa Osmani embodies, that even though Albanian society is predominantly a conservative Islamic one, they strive to appear progressive, showing that women have an equal role in international affairs just like men,” Radojkovic emphasizes.