Kosovo, Europe’s youngest nation and one of Europe’s poorest economies[1], on February 14 2021 elected its new government. People of Kosovo were heading to the voting polls for the 6th time in the last 14 years. The February snap elections came after a hectic year that left the country not only in a health crisis caused by COVID pandemics but also a political one. However, after the election results were confirmed, the supporters of the Vetevendosje [Self-Determination, LVV] party were celebrating on the streets of Priština. It seemed as the sparkle for better days in Kosovo has started and got its confirmation during the victory speech by Albin Kurti, stating that “this great victory is an opportunity to start the changes we want” [2].
It is clear that Kosovar people are tired of the unfulfilled promises and political instability that was constant in the last years. Therefore, the new government and PM Kurti will face high expectations from their voters particularly regarding the economic instability. Moreover, on April 4, 2021, the new president was appointed in Kosovo. Vjosa Osmani, a reformist and a lawyer, was the acting president from November 2020 because her predecessor, Hashim Thaci, was being charged with war crimes[3]. Osmani was approved as a president with 71 votes while the ethnic Serb minority party and two more opposition parties boycotted the voting[4].
📌 POLICY PAPER | New Government in Kosovo: What Does It Mean for the Future of its Relations with the European Union? — authored by @VGrganovic
Contributed by ⬇️
◼️@ViolavonCramon
◼️@albanarexhaFor the entire paper ⬇️ https://t.co/gke3Opp4yz pic.twitter.com/JyZ71JEDhO
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[1] The World Bank in Kosovo, “Overview”, n.d., https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/kosovo/overview
[2] Euroactive, “Kosovo anti-establishment party set for landslide win”, 15 February 2021, https://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/kosovo-anti-establishment-party-set-for-landslide-win/
[3] DW, “Kosovo’s former President Thaci pleads not guilty to war crimes charges in Hague court“, 09 November 2020, https://www.dw.com/en/kosovos-former-president-thaci-pleads-not-guilty-to-war-crimes-charges-in-hague-court/a-55544470
[4] AlJazeera, “Kosovo parliament elects Vjosa Osmani as new president“, 4 April 2021, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/4/4/kosovo-parliament-elects-vjosa-osmani-as-new-president
