By Ilir Deda
Dear Saša,
I would truly love to share your optimism! I’m not cynical, and I deeply believe that genuine democratic transformation lies in a complete break from the ideology of the 1990s. As we can see, the more we stagnate, the more that repackaged ideology is recycled. Without societal self-confrontation, governments may change every four years, but if that ideology remains dominant, it’s hard to imagine any real shift toward the future.
The rotation of power, as the first principle of a functioning democracy, is not enough to ensure democratization. Beyond the separation of powers, what matters is the policy agenda the new government promotes and works on. That’s why I insist on the importance of the future government’s ideological foundations.
What greatly interests me regarding developments in Serbia is: what values will a future government be grounded in when it comes to Serbia’s neighbors—Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro? Will this new government continue with the „four pillars of foreign policy,“ or will it truly pivot toward integration into the EU? What will be its position on the Serbian Orthodox Church leader’s stance that the Church wants Serbia to “belong to the Russian orbit… the Russian world”? Will that new government succeed in reconciling Serbia with itself and with its neighbors? Regarding relations with Kosovo, will Serbia’s future leaders be able to establish a normal relationship with Kosovo—one based on equality and mutual respect? Will we finally take a meaningful step toward building a true culture of peace?
Albania—almost certainly—and Montenegro—provided it improves relations with Croatia and Kosovo—are on track to become EU member states very soon. It’s genuinely heartening to see that the EU has finally awakened and is moving forward with enlargement. The rest of us have a chance—provided that we make a real shift NOW, rather than continue suffocating in national chauvinism, weak institutions, and minimal separation and control of power. Alternatively, for those of us who can’t tackle EU membership reforms, we should aim to become an integral part of the European Single Market by 2030.
As for post-election Kosovo, there’s nothing new—no formation of the Assembly, and no signs of a parliamentary majority that could form a new government. It’s painful to watch the Assembly every 48 hours, where no majority exists to elect the current nominee for speaker of the institution. This situation will drag on, but Kosovo has already lost the year 2025. In the current political game of nerves, support for the semi-ruling Vetëvendosje party is rapidly declining, so some future agreement on new elections might become the way forward.
Whatever the outcome of the current situation, when it comes to more stable governments in our region, we know the path to progress. As for Kosovo, that path requires a government with a strong socio-economic agenda, genuine efforts to build trust with Kosovo Serbs, real partnerships with key Western countries, good neighborly relations in the Western Balkans, and progress in relations with Serbia based on the Brussels/Ohrid Agreement—including unblocking the establishment of the Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities.
I sincerely hope we’ll have the opportunity to continue our correspondence on KoSSev—a media outlet at the top of the ladder when it comes to professionalism and credibility.
Warm regards,
Ilir
Preuzimanje i objavljivanje tekstova sa portala KoSSev nije dozvoljeno bez navođenja izvora. Hvala na poštovanju etike novinarske profesije.
