Vladisavljev: In the event of new elections, Self-Determination risks a worse result

Stefan Vladisavljev, Program Coordinator at the BFPE Foundation for a Responsible Society, assessed that a government in a technical mandate led by Self-Determination would face a potential risk of performing worse in new elections, should they take place.

According to some scenarios being speculated by certain opposition parties, Self-Determination is allegedly deliberately delaying the process of forming new institutions in order to trigger snap parliamentary elections in the fall, which would be held alongside the local ones.

However, Vladisavljev points out that it remains questionable whether, in such a short period, Albin Kurti’s caretaker government could successfully address the issues considered to have contributed to Self-Determination's weaker performance in the February 9 elections compared to their 2021 result.

Generally speaking, he adds, it is to be expected that the outcome of new elections would likely result in a status quo.

“The parties that have not been in power, and haven’t even had the opportunity to come to power, haven’t had a chance to do anything either good or bad that could improve their position. On the other hand, Self-Determination continues to face the same challenges it has faced so far—chiefly that the international community does not look favorably upon their methods, primarily due to the unconstructive nature of their approach. The criticism and pressure from the international community will remain over the coming months, given that nothing has changed or improved, and their approach has not become any more constructive than it was,” Vladisavljev noted.

Additionally, he says, several international actors—primarily the United States—are still reassessing their position regarding the entire Western Balkans, including their stance toward Pristina.

“So, if the government in a technical mandate is merely waiting for a new election cycle and hoping for substantial changes, I don’t think they will come. There remains a potential risk that the outcome could be worse than it was in the previous elections,” he concluded.