Rapajic: A new mandate for Self-Determination would be buying time; new elections are the most logical solution

Aleksandar Rapajic, Program Director of the NGO Center for Democratic Culture Advocacy from North Mitrovica, stated that Kosovo’s President Vjosa Osmani faces two clearly defined options regarding the formation of the government — either to grant the mandate to a political party or to call new elections.

The Self-Determination Movement (Vetëvendosje) announced today that Glauk Konjufca will be its new candidate for Prime Minister. However, Rapajic believes this would merely postpone the decision until after the second round of local elections, scheduled for November 9.

Rapajic emphasized that the options before President Osmani are clearly defined and that new elections appear to be the most logical outcome.

“I think new elections are the most logical solution. The President has until November 5 either to assign the mandate to someone or to call new elections. Self-Determination will now once again attempt to form a government, which I think makes little sense, because if they didn’t have a majority previously with Kurti as the nominee, I don’t believe they’ll have one with anyone else (in this case, Konjufca). The other option is to call elections. We’ll have to wait and see what happens by the fifth,” Rapajic said.

He further explained that if Self-Determination were granted another mandate to form a government, it would only serve to buy time until the second round of local elections on November 9.

“That would merely postpone the decision until the second round of local elections — so that the party wouldn’t enter the second round as a complete loser, but rather with the appearance that there’s still a possibility of forming a government,” he concluded.