Spahiu: After new elections without substantive changes, the crisis will deepen

Political analyst Nexhmedin Spahiu says that after yesterday’s second unsuccessful attempt to vote in a government, Kosovo will most likely have new elections on 28 December, that the results will be more or less the same as on 9 February, and that the crisis will deepen.

Spahiu notes that the President of Kosovo now has to call elections within 30 to 45 days, and they could be held on 21 or 28 December, or on 4 January, but he sees 28 December as the most likely date.

"Some may gain more and some fewer votes, but nothing will fundamentally change, and that is a sign that the crisis will deepen, because with this kind of political philosophy nothing can be achieved. Not even the budget was adopted, and if there is no government by March, employees will not be able to receive salaries, no payments will be able to be made, so this is a major risk for Kosovo society", Spahiu warns.

What has happened from 9 February until today, in his view, is a sign of the lack of patriotism in Kosovo shown by all political parties representing the majority population.

"In this crisis, ethnic minorities in Kosovo have not contributed anything negative, they were even more willing to offer their positive contribution, but unfortunately the fate of the country depends on the majority, and the majority has shown itself to be unpatriotic", he says.

Spahiu assumes that if the elections are held on 28 December, when many people from the diaspora arrive in Kosovo, this will work in Albin Kurti’s favor.

"The diaspora has so far been his support, but we will see once the elections take place. The diaspora can bring a few more percentage points, maybe even enable him to form the government on his own, but when it comes to the election of the President of Kosovo, which happens immediately in March and requires a two-thirds majority, with this political philosophy we will still be in crisis and will have new elections again. That is unimaginable for anyone who views things rationally. Stubbornness is bigger than political and national interest, and therefore bigger than the interest of every individual", our interlocutor emphasizes.

He says that because of the new elections, the dialogue with Belgrade will remain blocked, although not all of the blame lies with Kosovo, only half, and that the EU Growth Plan funds will remain inaccessible to Kosovo.