Decision-making crisis can take Kosovo to elections (Radio Free Europe)
The inability of the ruling coalition to conclude issues such as the border demarcation with Montenegro – a requirement for visa liberalisation – and delays in meeting certain obligations from dialogue with Serbia and the inability to form the Armed Forces could take Kosovo to early elections next spring. Kosovo Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa, who is also the leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo, is opposing the idea of early elections. The opposition however and some MPs from the Democratic Party of Kosovo, are not excluding the possibility of elections next spring. Mustafa believes there will be no elections and that his government will conclude its mandate in 2018. He argues that calls for elections are not related to the border demarcation or visa liberalisation. “We have concluded that Kosovo has met all the requirements for visa liberalisation, and demarcation is the only requirement left,” Mustafa said. International diplomats too don’t prefer Kosovo losing time with organising elections. EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn said during a recent visit to Pristina that he was surprised that a ruling coalition with over 80 seats in parliament is unable to make decisions and is calling for elections. The German Ambassador to Kosovo, Angelika Viets, said she was not in favour of early elections. “Elections should take place according to timeframe, in 2018. Otherwise, Kosovo will lose precious time in implementing important reforms in the judiciary and other matters such as education, employment and economic development,” Viets said. The international community has addressed several requests to the ruling coalition, insisting on a solution to the demarcation issue and the formation of the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities. The opposition meanwhile is entirely focused on mobilisation on the ground, organising debates and visits in different locations in Kosovo. Pal Lekaj, head of the parliamentary group of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, said the government, despite having sufficient numbers in the Assembly, is unable to move certain processes forward. “Our current state is regretful, this is why I can freely say that the sooner we go to elections the better it will be for the people of Kosovo, because they are fed up with the current government,” he said.