Albanian Language Media:

• Another failed attempt to constitute the new Assembly of Kosovo (media)
• Kurti's letter to Abdixhiku: We are interested in coalition with LDK (media)
• Abdixhiku: We will respond soon, we will handle situation without arrogance (Reporteri)
• Murati on Kurti's letter: We are interested in agreement that unblocks situation (Koha)
• Haradinaj on Kurti's letter: It should have been done immediately after elections (Koha)
• LDK’s Gashi says political leaders should meet with Kurti (media)
• Krasniqi: We can gather for the 111th time, Albulena Haxhiu does not pass (media)
• Limaj: Political compromises; first three parties have the responsibility (Koha)
• Murati: Opposition to join us so Deputy Speaker doesn’t come from SL (Koha)
• Serbian List MPs don’t stand up to honor Kosovo Martyrs’ Day (media)
• Israel abolishes visas for Kosovars, only electronic permit required (media)

Serbian Language Media: 

• Serbian Democracy says Arsenijevic threatened by Kosovo police member (Radio KIM, media)
• Man from Mitrovica South arrested in connection to two thefts in Mitrovica North (KoSSev)
• Pavkovic: For survival of a government with minimal support, every law would be a major obstacle (Kosovo Online, Danas)
• Simic on proposed secret voting in Kosovo Assembly (social media)
• Workers of the Utility Company in Strpce back at work, Jevtic: We continue with services (Kosovo Online)
• InTER: Urgent intervention needed at the landfill Lucka Reka near Zubin Potok (Kosovo Online)
• Judicial employees across Serbia launch full-scale strike (N1, FoNet)

• Serbian student runners reach Augsburg, Germany (N1)

   

International:

• Serbian police and tabloids target protest supporters’ Viber chats (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media 

Another failed attempt to constitute the new Assembly of Kosovo (media)

For the eleventh time in a row, members of the Kosovo Assembly today have failed to constitute the new legislature, after refusing for the third time to form a committee that would hold a secret vote on the new Assembly Speaker. The new assembly session will be held on Wednesday.

Kurti's letter to Abdixhiku: We are interested in coalition with LDK (media)

The leader of the Vetevendosje Movement, Albin Kurti, has sent a letter to the leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Lumir Abdixhiku, in which he has asked for a governing coalition. “As the leader of the Vetevendosje Movement and the acting Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, I am interested and willing to make a political agreement with the LDK,” Kurti's letter states.

“Of course, we have differences in political beliefs and in governing policies, but coalitions are made precisely between those who have differences, by placing the rights and needs of the state and citizens as a priority,” the letter further states.

In the letter, Kurti said that the LDK is known as a party that has not hesitated to form governing coalitions “The disagreements and differences that the LDK may have with the LVV today are no greater than the ones that the LDK had before with the previous coalitions when they formed them. Plus, in 2020, we were colleagues together in Kurti 1, when I did not have problems with you, but with some others who no longer have high positions or great influence in the LDK as they did back then,” Kurti wrote.

He further wrote that he is convinced that the voters of both parties also prefer such a coalition. “I am convinced that the LDK voters today also mostly prefer the coalition with the LVV. The LVV voters also mostly prefer the coalition with the LDK, why shouldn’t we do it?” Kurti asked.

He said that LVV is not interested in a coalition with PDK.

Abdixhiku: We will respond soon, we will handle situation without arrogance (Reporteri)

LDK leader Lumir Abdixhiku, upon leaving the Parliament, said that he will respond very soon to Kurti’s letter Kurti sent him. According to him, the current situation should be handled without arrogance. "A letter has arrived, I will respond. I am going to the office to see the letter first, and then I will respond in time. Let me go to the office to see the letter, I will respond in time. I ask our people to handle the current situation without too much arrogance. We will respond officially as a party should," he told reporters.

Murati on Kurti's letter: We are interested in agreement that unblocks situation (Koha)

Vetevendosje Movement MP Hekuran Murati, while speaking about the letter that the leader of this party, Albin Kurti, sent to the leader of LDK, Lumir Abdixhiku, in which he asked for a governing coalition, said that this invitation was made because it is clearly seen that it is impossible to unblock the created situation otherwise. Murati said that LVV is open to cooperation and since, according to him, this political entity has requested a political agreement, it has been invited for discussion by Kurti. "The issue of the invitation for cooperation exists continuously. We are open to cooperation. Due to the fact that there have been MPs from the LDK who have stated that in order to have such cooperation, it is not enough to just constitute the Assembly, but there must be a political agreement, there has also been an invitation from Prime Minister Kurti to Lumir Abdixhiku, who in this case invites to discuss political cooperation in the way they claim. We are ready as the winners of the elections to find ways. We hope that there will be a willingness from other subjects to constitute the Assembly and to form the country's institutions. The invitation is based on what the LDK representatives themselves have stated, that they are seeking a political agreement, for this reason Prime Minister Kurti has also invited to have a political agreement", he said.

Murati added that he does not believe that such a letter will also be sent to the leader of the PDK, Memli Krasniqi. "I do not believe that there will be such a letter (to Memli Krasniqi), we are waiting for the response and then we will discuss it within the bodies of the subject that we have. I believe that you can clearly see what the invitation is for, we came to this invitation after we saw that in the impossibility of reaching an agreement, initially on the constitution of the Assembly, we are not interested in continuing with this situation and we are interested in unblocking it," he said.

Haradinaj on Kurti's letter: It should have been done immediately after elections (Koha)

The leader of the Alliance for the future of Kosovo (AAK) Ramush Haradinaj has commented on the letter that Prime Minister Albin Kurti sent to the Democratic League of Kosovo, in which he asks for a governing coalition. "It should have happened immediately after the elections, not to wait 90 days. It is a difficult situation in Kosovo, we are forgetting other topics, the increase in energy prices has become difficult for producers and we are a country that imports a lot. They have difficulty keeping workers, we are wasting time, someone must take care of them", Haradinaj said.

He added that the only solution to get out of this crisis is a unifying candidate. "First, Kurti would give a good sign that he intends to move forward, by finding a candidate that the LDK, the PDK or us can vote for," Haradinaj said.q

LDK’s Gashi says political leaders should meet with Kurti (media)

MP from the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) Arben Gashi said today that the political leaders, including LDK leader Lumir Abdixhiku, should meet with Albin Kurti and reach an agreement to break the deadlock in the Assembly, even if this means going to new elections. “The problem is that no one considers cooperation possible with Kurti. What Kurti has presented in the last five years is problematic. The way he dismissed the minister from the LDK, the way he has acted in the last four years in power, are problematic. But I think there is still a possibility, and this should be overcome. Whoever becomes Prime Minister tomorrow, will have to meet with [Serbian President Aleksandar] Vucic, and they don’t agree to meet with Albin Kurti or Lumir Abdixhiku or Memli Krasniqi and Ramush Haradinaj. This is unacceptable and unreasonable. They need to meet, talk and agree, even if it means going to elections. All parties should be objective and more constructive,” he said.

Abdixhiku also said that Kurti needs to apologize “for the insulting language and degrading behavior”. 

Krasniqi: We can gather for the 111th time, Albulena Haxhiu does not pass (media)

Memli Krasniqi, leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) said after failing for the eleventh time to constitute the Assembly of Kosovo, that there could be another 111 times, but Albulena Haxhiu does not pass. “For Albin Kurti, Albulena Haxhiu seems to be more important than about 1 million citizens who voted in the February 9 elections and who have given their verdict. But in the absence of the confidence of the numbers of the majority to become prime minister himself, he is playing with Albulena Haxhiu by keeping her as the candidate who does not pass”, he said.

According to him, Haxhiu did not pass and will not pass in the future either. “It is easier for him to sacrifice her than to come out and be evaluated himself since everyone knows that he does not have the numbers”, Krasniqi added.

He said that Kurti must understand that he cannot hold Kosovo hostage by force. “We are ready to take our responsibilities, but it seems that the LVV, not wanting to accept the defeat it suffered in the elections, because their demand was a referendum and the referendum failed, is continuing to hold the country hostage. The responsibility is theirs, it is up to them to take the first step. I invite them to change this authoritarian, imposing mentality and come up with a candidacy that can unblock this situation, otherwise we can come 111 more times, but Albulena Haxhiu does not pass”, he said.

Limaj: Political compromises; first three parties have the responsibility (Koha)

NISMA leader Fatmir Limaj said today that delays in creating the new institutions of Kosovo after the February elections are unnecessary. “The way forward is found through political agreements and compromises. Kosovo needs a majority in the assembly, and if the first party cannot have the majority, then the others must form a majority. The responsibility falls on the first three parties to undertake an initiative that will help the country break free from the deadlock,” Limaj said after the eleventh failed attempt to constitute the new Assembly. 

Murati: Opposition to join us so Deputy Speaker doesn’t come from SL (Koha)

MP from the Vetevendosje Movement (VV) Hekuran Murati said today that instead of opposing Albulena Haxhiu’s candidacy as Assembly Speaker, the opposition parties should cooperate with VV so that the Deputy Speaker does not come from the Serbian List. “Our position as the Vetevendosje Movement together with our partners is that … the least we can do is for the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly not to be elected by them. The position of the VV is that Nenad Rasic should represent the Serb community, and that the Deputy Speaker of the Kosovo Assembly should not come from the Serbian List. The opposition, instead of opposing Albulena Haxhiu as the Assembly Speaker, should join us so that we can at least make sure that the Deputy Speaker does not come from the Serbian List. This is why we have insisted on a package agreement for the names of deputy speakers, and so that a deputy speaker is not elected by someone that does not recognize the Republic of Kosovo,” he argued.

According to Murati, by refusing a secret vote on the new Assembly Speaker, the opposition is proving that it does not believe its MPs. “The secret vote is a constitutional vote to emerge from this situation, but we can see that the opposition parties do not trust their own MPs,” he said.

Serbian List MPs don’t stand up to honor Kosovo Martyrs’ Day (media)

Most news websites report that Serbian List MPs did not stand up in today’s session of the Kosovo Assembly when the assembly chair called for a minute of silence in honor of May 5, the Kosovo Martyrs’ Day. 

Israel abolishes visas for Kosovars, only electronic permit required (media)

From today, May 5, 2025, Kosovo people no longer need a visa to enter Israel for tourist purposes, as long as they have a valid Kosovo passport and apply in advance for ETA-IL. This is the result of the visa waiver agreement signed between Israel and Kosovo on June 18, 2024, which was ratified on February 5, 2025 and entered into force on May 5, 2025.

However, starting from January 1, 2025, all travelers from visa-exempt countries, including Kosovo, were required to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA-IL) before entering Israel. This authorization is valid for stays of up to 90 days and costs 25 Israeli shekels (over 6 euros).

Serbian Language Media

Serbian Democracy says Arsenijevic threatened by Kosovo police member (Radio KIM, media)

Serbian Democracy said in a statement that their leader Aleksandar Arsenijevic was physically assaulted by a Kosovo police officer, upon coming to the vicinity of the police station following reports of two Serbian girls who were subjected to sexist comments and verbal harassment in Mitrovica North, Radio KIM reported.

Serbian Democracy in a statement said that “a police officer has threatened Arsenijevic with a murder if he published the recordings of the incident on social media”.

As the party added, the incident occurred early on Sunday and the attack happened soon after Arsenijevic reacted to the reports that two Serbian girls were subjected to harassment by a group of “sexual predators” as they called them. Serbian Democracy also claimed that “some Kosovo police members refused to protect victims and stood up in protection of attackers”.

"We demand the immediate prosecution, under criminal liability, of the police officer who assaulted (party’s) president Arsenijevic, as well as other officials who refused to respond to the report of sexual abuse", the statement said.

Serbian Democracy also published a video in which, as they claimed, a death threat addressed to Arsenijevic by a policeman can be heard. The video is available at: https://shorturl.at/7Sqgw

This political party also demanded that Kosovo police release the video footage from surveillance cameras in front of the police station in Mitrovica North, in order “to show the public the brutal physical attack on Arsenijevic”. They also said incidents like this are becoming more frequent, in particular when it comes to sexual violence against women in North Mitrovica.

"We consider last night's attacks an attack on the entire Serbian people, because every woman, mother, sister can become the next. Although sexual predators attacked Serbian women this time, all women are threatened by this behavior of sexual predators  -  regardless of their religious and ethnic background", the statement added.

Serbian Democracy also announced the possible self-organization of people through "neighborhood watches", if the institutions do not take urgent measures to address the issue. 

Man from Mitrovica South arrested in connection to two thefts in Mitrovica North (KoSSev)

One person from Zabrdje settlement in Mitrovica South was arrested yesterday in connection with two thefts targeting two business premises in Mitrovica North on the night between Friday and Saturday, KoSSev portal reported. 

Initials M.M. and the age of the arrested person (31) were only released. During interrogation, as police said, the man admitted carrying out the thefts.  

The first theft occurred on May 2, late in the evening at the main street in Mitrovica North. Police were informed that 550 euros were stolen from a business premise at Kralj Petar Street. Few hours later, around 6.00 a.m. a new report on theft came. The door into the business premise in the very centre of the city was broken, and a mobile phone and around 60 euros and some dinars were stolen on that occasion. 

Pavkovic: For survival of a government with minimal support, every law would be a major obstacle (Kosovo Online, Danas)

If Self-Determination were to manage to secure the necessary number of votes to constitute parliament in the near future, and if it were to form a government with the minimum required 61 votes, then according to Milos Pavkovic, an associate at the European Policy Centre in Belgrade, the survival of such a government would mean that every law introduced would potentially be a major threat, reported Kosovo Online.

“The government would have to evaluate each law to determine whether it could be problematic for any member of parliament and potentially be rejected. We have seen that one MP, a representative of the Bosniak and minority group, conditioned her support for entering the government on the formation of a Bosniak municipality, which was not approved. Literally every law could pose a problem,” Pavkovic states.

He adds that the government would not only be tested during the adoption of proposed laws, but also on issues like the upcoming local elections and the election of Kosovo President. 

“This raises the question of whether the upcoming local elections later this year could lead to the fall of the government, as well as the forthcoming presidential elections in early 2026. All of these are potentially very difficult obstacles that would likely lead to the government's collapse, along with each law that enters the procedure. The Budget Law would be particularly challenging, as it is problematic for any government, especially one with such a minimal majority,” Pavkovic emphasizes.

Simic on proposed secret voting in Kosovo Assembly (social media)

Serbian List Igor Simic in a post on Instagram published a video of his address in Kosovo Assembly regarding proposed secret voting for the Assembly Speaker along with a message opposing such a concept.  

“Kurti's regime still insists on a secret voting for the Speaker of parliament, even though they are aware that this is not in accordance with the Rules of procedure. Serbian List @srpskalista MPs will not support such a proposal. And they will have to get used to the fact that the Serbs are not the ones they bought and gathered around them in the previous period”, Simic wrote in a post. 

Workers of the Utility Company in Strpce back at work, Jevtic: We continue with services (Kosovo Online)

After the Ministry of Trade and Industry temporarily closed the Utility Company in Strpce almost two weeks ago, the workers of this company were back at their workplaces this morning. This is the first public utility company in the Serbian system that was reopened after being closed, reported Kosovo Online.

The President of Strpce Municipality Dalibor Jevtic said that the Utility Company will continue to provide its services in the same way as before until the license is obtained.

This morning, Jevtic, accompanied by his associates, visited the workers of the utility company at their workplaces. He said that during the previous week, they had numerous meetings and activities on the topic of continuing work so that the citizens of the municipality of Strpce would not be left without the services that this utility company provides.

"My request was to first enable the work of the administration and the company in order to continue with the second procedure, which is related to licensing and signing the contract with the regional water company, and we will continue our activities during the week. The most important thing for the citizens of the municipality is that the Public Utility Company will continue to provide its services in the same way as before until the license is obtained, and I hope that no one will violate the agreement we had," said Jevtic.

He expressed his gratitude to the representatives of the international community, especially the United States Embassy in Pristina, for their support, help and understanding.

"In this context, I hope that all of us together, to the satisfaction of the citizens of the Strpce municipality, will have communal services that citizens need - garbage collection and other services," said Jevtic.

InTER: Urgent intervention needed at the landfill Lucka Reka near Zubin Potok (Kosovo Online)

The Institute for Territorial Economic Development (InTER) announced that urgent intervention is needed at the Lučka Reka landfill, reported Kosovo Online. 

"The Lucka Reka sanitary landfill near Zubin Potok has been burning for ten days, spreading toxic smoke through the Ibar valley all the way to Mitrovica. Despite the obvious danger to health and the environment, the competent institutions remain passive. We call for immediate action - it is necessary to immediately hire machinery, equipment, and expert teams to extinguish the fire and prevent an ecological disaster. The fire will not go out on its own. Responsibility must not be delayed!", says the statement of the Institute for Territorial Economic Development.

Judicial employees across Serbia launch full-scale strike (N1, FoNet)

Judicial employees across Serbia began a full-scale strike on Monday, citing years of government neglect and failure to address their demands, the FoNet news agency reported.

The judicial workers’ union earlier said that their demands include fair and dignified wages, improved working conditions, formal recognition of the critical role administrative and professional staff play in the justice system, and an end to the systemic undervaluing of their work.

There are no hearings, no verdicts, no justice without court staff, the union said. It emphasized that the message of this strike is clear – justice comes to a halt until the work of those who keep it running every day is heard and acknowledged. The union called on all employees to join the strike without exception, emphasizing that only widespread participation can bring about real change. Before initiating the full strike, the judicial workers’ union had organized several warning strikes.

Serbian student runners reach Augsburg, Germany (N1)

Serbian student ultramarathoners running a relay to Brussels to deliver a letter about the situation in Serbia during a session of the European Parliament on May 12 arrived in the German city of Augsburg on Sunday evening.

A few dozen Augsburg residents welcomed them at Moritzplatz square, greeting them with loud applause and cheers. A red carpet was rolled out for the runners, flanked by red heart-shaped signs bearing the names of those who died in the November 1, 2024 collapse of a concrete canopy at the Novi Sad main train station. White roses and candles were also placed at the site.

The names of all 16 victims were read aloud, followed by an 18-minute moment of silence in memory of them and the victims of the May 2023 mass shootings in Serbia.

The assembled crowd presented the students with a flag reading Augsburg Stands with the Students. The flag features two marathoners running alongside Augustus Octavian, the Roman emperor during whose reign Augsburg was founded, surrounded by petals symbolizing the 16 victims of the canopy collapse. The runners also received badges bearing the same design.

Their next stop is the German city of Ulm. The students’ total route to Brussels is almost 2,000 kilometers long.

International

Serbian police and tabloids target protest supporters’ Viber chats (BIRN)

Supporters of the ongoing protests in Serbia often use Viber chat groups to communicate with each other and organise solidarity actions – but some of their messages have been used against them by the police and scandal-seeking tabloids.

“I’m afraid that they followed my husband after the Parents' Council meeting,” Nada – not her real name – wrote in a Viber chat group for parents of children at an elementary school in Serbia.

A father in the same Viber chat group confirmed Nada’s story, naming the two men who had followed her husband after the meeting of the local Parents’ Council – an advisory body that makes suggestions for improving working practices at schools and points out shortcomings.

After the father named the two men, he got a call from the police, asking him to come in for an interview. Nada went along to the police interview with him, out of solidarity. 

It turned out that one of the two men at the meeting was a businessman close to the ruling Serbian Progressive Party, who had filed a report to the police claiming his safety had been put at risk because he had been named in the Viber message, which was sent to about 500 members of the group.

Nada said the parents’ meeting discussed whether or not to support teachers who were striking as part of the ongoing protests in Serbia that have shaken the government.

Nada told BIRN that she had heard a rumour before the meeting that at least two men from the Serbian Progressive Party would attend.

“Since the members of the Parents’ Council are mostly women, I told my husband that he had to go [to the meeting] too,” she said.

She said the atmosphere at the meeting with the government loyalists present was “not pleasant”. 

Read more at: https://shorturl.at/CcokD