“Kosovo Faces Months of Blockade,” Warns Leart Hoxha

After the recent parliamentary elections, Kosovo is entering a potential two- to three-month institutional blockade, which could have serious consequences for the country’s economy and international cooperation, according to ATV editor Leart Hoxha.

“If Kosovo doesn’t have a functioning parliament, it won’t be able to react with the same speed to international developments,” warns Hoxha. Meanwhile, the rest of the world is moving fast, leaving Kosovo at risk of falling behind.

Yet, Hoxha also highlighted the brighter side of election day, describing it as a “festival of democracy” and noting the failure of attempts to polarize Kosovo’s citizens.

A Test of Democracy

Kosovo’s parliamentary elections, held on Sunday, marked the first regular elections since 2008. The Self-Determination Movement (LVV) won over 40% of the vote, followed by the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK).

While official results are still pending, PDK and AAK have already ruled out forming a coalition with LVV. The LDK, however, stated it will wait for the final tally before deciding on potential partnerships. Meanwhile, the Serbian List declared victory, claiming all 10 guaranteed seats reserved for the Serbian community in the Assembly. There is also a possibility that the party led by Nenad Rašić could secure one seat.

Kosovo: Champion of Free Elections

Hoxha praised the election process, calling it a testament to Kosovo’s growing democratic maturity.

“Kosovo continues the tradition of organizing the best and most democratic elections in the Western Balkans,” he said in an interview with KoSSev, emphasizing the difference compared to elections in neighboring countries.

However, he acknowledged the technical glitch with the electronic vote counting system, calling it a setback but one that did not compromise the integrity of the process.

“The delay was unfortunate, but it didn’t affect the regularity of the elections,” Hoxha assured.

Regarding concerns about irregularities in polling stations in northern Kosovo, including the presence of police near voting locations, Hoxha deferred to official findings but noted progress compared to past elections.

“In the past, we saw ballot-stuffing incidents, especially in places like Raška. This election was a good test for the upcoming local elections in the north,” he added.

Failed Attempts at Polarization

One of the most encouraging outcomes, Hoxha noted, was the failure of Self-Determination and other parties to polarize and divide the population. “That tactic didn’t work. The elections were calm and orderly,” he said.

Hoxha also observed that the preliminary results suggest a loss of support for Albin Kurti’s LVV in key urban areas like Pristina. “This was expected. Now we wait for the diaspora votes to be counted to get the full picture,” he said.

Uncertain Future and Institutional Deadlock

Once the final results are confirmed, Kosovo’s new parliament must be constituted within 30 days. According to electoral procedures, political parties or candidates have 24 hours after the announcement of results to file complaints with the Election Complaints and Appeals Panel (ECAP).

If dissatisfied with the ECAP’s decision, they can appeal to the Supreme Court, potentially delaying the process even further.

After the parliament is formed, the president of Kosovo has the discretion to nominate a candidate for prime minister. The new government must be voted in within 15 days of receiving the mandate.

Hoxha warns that the upcoming months could bring significant challenges. “The blockade will have serious economic implications and could hinder Kosovo’s cooperation with the international community,” he stressed, reminding that Kosovo is still under EU punitive measures.

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