Savkovic: Self-Determination wins through confrontational politics; Serbia “real or imagined enemy”

Senior advisor at the ISAC Fund, Marko Savkovic, stated that Kosovo Prime Minister and Self-Determination leader Albin Kurti’s militaristic rhetoric during the election campaign is an expected continuation of his confrontational politics, in which Serbia is portrayed as a “real or imagined enemy.”

"He must assert himself as Kosovo’s undisputed leader. His politics have largely been confrontational, imposing his will, especially on citizens living in the north. But it has also been a policy that constantly speculates whether Serbia is a real or imagined enemy with whom Kosovo might enter into conflict one day. That is why he insists on modernizing weaponry and forging new alliances," Savkovic told Kosovo Online.

He sees Kurti’s inflammatory rhetoric as a clear message to his voters.

"This is a message to his electorate that, under his leadership, Kosovo will be strong, independent in decision-making, sovereign across its entire territory, and ready, if necessary, to confront those it perceives as enemies," Savkovic explained.

When asked how realistic such a conflict is, Savkovic believes that due to KFOR’s presence, a larger conflict is unlikely, but local incidents remain a possibility.

"There is always a local risk of conflict. However, I do not believe in a broader confrontation, mainly because of KFOR’s presence and the risks it would pose to both regimes," he emphasized.

Regarding the target audience of Kurti’s messages, Savkovic says they are aimed at the segment of the electorate that wants to hear them, with the diaspora serving as a key support base.

"This is yet another Balkan paradox. The diaspora often holds more radical views, and I believe it has contributed to Kurti’s success, as has the memory of the failures of previous governments. Kosovo’s previous administrations were not particularly successful, neither in achieving national goals nor in economic terms," Savkovic said.

He reminds that when Kurti came to power in 2020 and then again in 2021, he promised “jobs and justice.”

"His critics argue that he has delivered neither," Savkovic concluded.