Those familiar with political circumstances say that the 'dominance' of political parties in not cooperating with each other is the result that is visible: a state without a government and in many segments dysfunctional. New elections are just the backdrop.

Glauk Konjufca is the second candidate of the Vetevendosje Movement to create a parliamentary majority and form the new government of Kosovo. There is no information whether Konjufca has managed to secure a majority. None of the parties in the opposition so far, as they say, want to join Vetevendosje in a coalition in order to avoid new parliamentary elections.

Contacts with AAK without result

The only party that said it had been contacted by Vetëvendosje at this stage was the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, an attempt to coordinate meetings regarding the government vote. AAK leader Ramush Haradinaj said he had refused to meet with Vetëvendosje officials, just as he would have refused even if he had received concrete proposals for cooperation in governance. Haradinaj believes that "early elections are the only way out of the political impasse."

"We have not had a proposal or request for any cooperation. They have requested communication, there have been requests for meetings or consultations with colleagues from our ranks, including me in this case. But we do not see ourselves going to meetings," said Haradinaj.

Other opposition parties refuse cooperation

The other two parties in the opposition, the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), say they have not been contacted by Vetëvendosje at all and do not want to cooperate with this party. LDK MP Alban Zogaj said in a press conference that the goal of the LVV is not to secure a parliamentary majority, but only to buy time.

"What we are seeing these days is exactly the same approach as with the first mandate holder. The first mandate holder had neither the tendency nor the interest to create the country's institutions. The same thing is happening with the second mandate holder," said Zogaj, adding that the LDK does not have the votes for the Konjufca government.

Even the resigning leader of the other party, PDK, Memli Krasniqi, said a few days ago that "there has been no contact with the LVV nor any request from it for the government to vote". According to him, "extraordinary elections must be held without wasting time". PDK is awaiting the election of the new party leader.

New elections are also inevitable for Fatmir Limaj's Social Democratic Initiative. Vetëvendosje, meanwhile, has not responded whether they secured any more votes than in the first attempt to form a government, where Albin Kurti received only 56 votes out of 120 deputies in the Kosovo parliament.

Glauk Konjufca himself, on the day of his mandate by the president to create a parliamentary majority, said that he "wants cooperation with the Albanian parties represented in the assembly, but not a coalition". He said that with the election of a new government led by him, the possibility of holding elections in December would be avoided, so that the country would not have two elections for a short period, since the country's new president should be elected in April.

Osmani: The hearing must be convened within the constitutional deadline

Kosovo's President, Vjosa Osmani, who has already mandated Glauk Konjufca as the second prime minister, expects the session for the new government to be convened as soon as possible.

"The second mandate for prime minister is still within the constitutional deadline. So, as you know, the session must be convened within the constitutional deadline. There are still a few days left. We hope that this will be done as soon as possible and we will see the result of this session," says President Osmani.

Analysts: Political parties' stubbornness is a problem

Political observers say that the 'dominance' of political parties in not cooperating with each other is the result that is visible: a state without a government and in many segments dysfunctional. The elections are seen in the background. Blerim Burjani, a political analyst, told DW that "the current position wants full power with the formula, either all or nothing, while the current opposition parties do not want cooperation with Vetëvendosje.

"So, in my opinion, if they want to avoid two consecutive elections, then the political parties, the ruling and opposition parties, should agree to form a technical government composed of independent experts. In this situation, the president, together with the political parties, would propose the composition of the government and this government would be a six-month transitional one where the budget would be approved and the state would be saved from collapse," says Burjani. According to him, these political parties have caused great damage and have compromised the citizens with their behavior towards the country.

"Political parties must appeal to conscience, political awareness and work for the good of citizens. For the moment, they have brought the state into a state of blockade, threatening the present and the future, if they do not communicate with each other to find a temporary solution," says Burjani, adding that Kosovo, it seems, needs something new, to have a different political scene, so as not to waste time.

Nine months after the parliamentary elections, Kosovo continues to be in a deep institutional crisis, having failed to form a government. Without a new government, even with a constituted parliament, Kosovo risks entering a financial crisis due to the non-approval of the budget for 2026 that should be proposed by the government. The President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, is asking political parties to compromise, as Kosovo risks being left without a budget.

"I have also raised the issue of the growth plan, which is over 800 million euros, the issue of agreements with the World Bank, which now at the end of December are 100 million euros, but which are another 200 million at the end of the year that could be lost if they are not ratified. So, we are talking about a billion euros, which is a quarter of Kosovo's budget, which Kosovo should not lose, but rather benefit from. All that is needed is the will of the political parties so that these decisions are made by this assembly, by the representatives of this assembly, who were voted on February 9, but have not yet decided anything," says President Osmani.

In a letter to President Osmani, 21 civil society organizations said that the country's lack of a new budget would paralyze payments for teachers, doctors, public administration, and social transfers for hundreds of thousands of Kosovo citizens.

"The country's financial future and the well-being of citizens should not be held hostage to political blockades. We believe that your experience, authority and unifying role as president can be decisive in avoiding a crisis that would affect many families in Kosovo," the civil society letter to the president states.

However, according to the Constitution of Kosovo, if even the second candidate, Glauk Konjufca, fails to form a majority by November 19, when this is confirmed through a parliamentary session, then the President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, must declare new extraordinary elections, which must be held no later than 40 days from the date of their announcement. /Deutsche Welle

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