Spahiu: It is in everyone’s interest, especially minorities, for the president to be elected directly

Analyst Nexhmedin Spahiu told Kosovo Online that changing the procedure for electing the president of Kosovo, so that citizens would elect the president directly instead of having the vote take place in parliament, would be in everyone’s interest, especially minorities, but he points out that for now there is no political will for such a change because political leaders are not inclined to alter anything.

Although changing the method of electing the president would require an amendment to Kosovo’s Constitution, Spahiu believes that it could be carried out very easily if there were the will to do so.

Two-thirds of the members of parliament could decide on it immediately, he assesses, noting that for a constitutional amendment it is also necessary for two-thirds of the representatives of minority communities to vote in favor, that is, 14 out of 20 MPs representing ethnic minorities.

“I believe that changing the method of electing the president is in everyone’s interest, especially minorities, because then presidential candidates would go to minority communities to seek votes, and that could increase the importance of minorities in decision-making. Each of the candidates would probably promise them something in order to win their votes, and in that way, their role in Kosovo society would grow. That is why I think minorities would vote for amending the Constitution in that regard. Also, the majority of the people of Kosovo have an interest in this, so that political deadlocks, which always arise when it comes to electing the president of Kosovo, would be avoided”, Spahiu states.

Asked whether the direct election of the president would lead to a redistribution of political power in Kosovo, he says he does not believe so unless the president’s competences were increased, which would be decided during the constitutional amendment process.

“When the Constitution is amended, it can be decided that the competences remain the same, are reduced or are increased. I think the president’s competences should remain the same because that would pass most easily. We have become accustomed to the existing competences over the past twenty or so years, so it would be easier to implement and keep them as they are”, he states.

Speaking about the upcoming presidential election, which must be held by March 4, Spahiu says it will be a success if a president is elected this time. However, he adds that since Albin Kurti is no longer interested in going to new elections because he cannot achieve a better result than the one he already has, he believes Kurti will relent so that a president will be elected based on some proposal from the opposition.