Rapajic: Osmani in campaign, elections suit her at this moment

Aleksandar Rapajic, Program Director of the NGO Center for Advocacy of Democratic Culture from North Mitrovica, told Kosovo Online that Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani is in a kind of election campaign and that elections would suit her most at this moment.

Rapajic points out that the desire for elections was the reason why Osmani dissolved the Assembly and initiated the process of calling elections.

“I think she is most appealing to the party she previously belonged to, which is the Democratic League of Kosovo. Now the question is how strong her political influence is and how much she can contribute. Although the LDK performed poorly in the last elections, so they also need some kind of reinforcement,” Rapajic said.

He adds that toward the very end of her mandate Osmani gained importance through representing Kosovo in the Board of Peace, and that she positioned herself as someone who could improve relations between the United States and Kosovo.

“At one point, Vjosa unexpectedly emerged on the political scene due to her participation in Trump’s Board of Peace. That brought her significant media attention. She had meetings with the US administration and presented herself as someone who could potentially improve relations between Kosovo and the United States, which have deteriorated under the Self-Determination government. How much advantage did that bring her? I believe it was a temporary advantage, and as time passes, that significance and advantage she has will decline. I do not believe she will have substantial political support in Kosovo,” Rapajic assessed.